Dredging
Back in Cambridge, I am trying to re-adjust to my fall/winter/spring life (remembering to put the trash out on Monday night, instead of driving to the dump on Tuesday), field the demands of new-book-promotion (interiew Monday with Entertainment Weekly; interview two weeks from Friday with NPR), prepare for a 14-city book tour that starts October 1st, seeing friends I haven't seen since spring, doing the dentisty/mammogram/eye exam/car service juggle, catching up on DVRed TV shows (a whole season of "Newsroom"...AND I have vowed to go through this house bit by bit and dispose of accumulated stuff, in preparation for selling it next spring.
With that in mind, this morning I opened the drawers of this pretty little chest that has sat in my dining room for years....with its drawers unopened. Inside I found lots of candles. Hmmm. I haven't entertained much, in the formal sense, in a long time. So I had forgtten about candles. Do I save them? GIve them away? THROW them away? Or put them back in the drawer and close the drawer. Three guesses.
But I also found some interesting memorabilia. Here is a Christmas card...no date. Maybe 4 years ago. I'll insert it here as a mystery item so you can guess whose daughters* these three gorgeous girls are.
And finally (I'll provide the answer to the above mystery in a minute), same drawer, a newsppaer clipping. A photo of my son (far right) and an article about the high quality of USAF pilots in Europe. "Captain's Lowry's flight evaluation noted that he flew a flawless mission by flying instrument approaches throughout different European bases during his instrument evaluation." He worked so hard to be flawless in a job that demanded it, and it was a hideous irony that he later died when his plane crashed because of a mechanic's error.
So: how do I go about downsizing when even the smallest stuff has meaning? Grit my teeth and crumple? No, the clipping will go into a box filled labeled with his name—GREY—and when I move the box will move with me.
The Christmas card with the beautiful daughters of *Susan and Jeff Bridges? Guess I can toss that, and hope they'll send me an update, maybe with beautiful grandbabies.
Comments
Purging can be such a difficult process, especially things from our darkest hours.
Hello Lois,
I am inquiring if you would autograph a fabric piece for my authors quilt? When completed I will be donating the quilt to my local library for a fund raiser. I would need a mailing address to send the fabric, pen and SASE to, if you decide to help with my big project. Hope you found lots of treasures in your lovely wooden chest. We always seem to keep things and later realize they are little treasures of our past. email address is botkinskid@hotmail.com Thank you. Ann
Ms. Lowry,
My 5th grade class is working on writing a memoir. I read them your book "Crow Call" as a mentor text. My writers were wondering if you still have the shirt. Thanks.
Chris Ebneth
Hillside School
Livingston, NJ
I cannot wait for Son to come out! Do you know when your NPR interview will be aired? I would love to hear it!
Best wishes on your book tour,
Jenn Fischer
Even in your ramblings, Lois, you share such heart and love. How you shared about your son is so honest and lovely and heartbreaking and hopeful. Why hopeful? Because you continued to create and share with the world even though you lost a child. I have never lost a child, but I have heard from many that is the most gut wrenching pain one can experience -- and you were able to rise above it and continue to do the incredible work you do. Thank you -- it encourages me a lot at this moment when I very much need it.