Time to revisit...

As I've been going through some of my family's things this past month, certain items I've stumbled across have made me realize how much in common I had with my Grandmother. We were close when I was a child and I'd love to hear her own childhood stories, but as far as sharing her personal collections with me, she was generally private with those things. I was also private with that sort of thing. I wasn't hiding anything. I just didn't think she'd be interested. Perhaps she thought the same thing about sharing those things with me. What a shame. 

Among her quirky collections, I found albums of coins, stamps, and postcards, which brought a huge smile to my face. It made me think about the whole "Nature vs. Nurture" debate. I'm not an avid collector of coins or stamps but I have enough to organize in an album if I ever decided to do so. Postcards on the other hand, I've been collecting since I was a teenager. I couldn't believe I didn't know she collected them as well. Her collection wasn't very big, but it was enough to make me feel much closer to her even though she passed on almost two years ago. There was one postcard in particular that touched me in an unexpected way. It was a postcard from Twenty Mule team Canyon in Death Valley, CA. I always knew she liked nature and the outdoors. She was the one that introduced me to National Geographic magazines and Wild America on T.V. But I never knew she also liked this place. I really wish I would've known. Even with that feelling of regret, I felt happiness. Happiness that we were more alike than I thought.

Grandma's Twenty Mule Team Canyon Postcard ~ 1970s

At Twenty Mule Team Canyon ~ 2010

Even though I missed that opportunity with my grandmother, I'm really glad I took my mother to Death Valley before she passed. One of the special moments we shared out there was hiking through the Natural Bridge. We talked, collected colored rocks, and had a really great time. Moments like those weren't too common in our relationship unfortunately, but those good times are what I'll keep forever...along with the rocks we brought back. I haven't been able to visit Death Valley or any other national park this year, but I'm definitely looking forward to some cooler weather so I can take some trips this fall & winter. I can't wait to make new memories, and of course I'll keep them close to my heart with each visit.

Mom and I at the Natural Bridge Death Valley, CA 2010

Another precious find in my Grandmother's belongings were some snapshots of a trip to Sequoia National Park when I was young. I have one memory from this trip and it was when we drove through the knocked down tree. Actually, I haven't been back there since these pictures were taken and it is definitely time to revisit parks I've been to, as well as see parks I've yet to visit. Parks they wanted to visit. Life is simply too short and I don't need another reminder of that fact.

With Grandma & Mom at Sequoia National Park 1985

The Memory of a Stamp

About 6 years ago my heart broke when I lost my passport. I was moving into my second apartment in Whittier and that was the last time I remember seeing it. I searched every single box and bag without any luck. With every move after that, I kept searching. To be honest, it took me years to accept that it was lost. Eventually, I had to convince myself that I accidentally threw it away. I wasn't sad because of the money I'd have to spend to replace it. (Although I wasn't crazy about spending another $100) I was heartbroken because of the travel stamps that I lost. It's not like I had too many stamps since I had traveled to other countries via rail, but the sentimental value of the first stamp I received back in September '02, along with my full page student visa, were priceless to me.

Over the past month, I've been cleaning out many of my Grandmother's and Mother's things out of the house, which has triggered a wave of emotions. I've found several personal treasures, however, the biggest surprise came my way yesterday. I was sorting out some things to donate to Goodwill when out of nowhere, a passport literally fell onto my lap. I opened it up and there I was at age 20. I'm sure I let out an audible sound of approval at that moment. It doesn't matter that the passport isn't valid anymore. I was thrilled it turned up and in a cliche manner too...when I wasn't looking for it. 

I've visited Mexico twice with my new passport and it wasn't stamped either time, much to my disappointment. I'll find out soon enough if Turkey and Romania still stamp passports. The new passports have microchips in them so I'm not certain, but I sure hope so...