Speechless

This week's Mama Kat's Writing Assignment that I chose was 1.) Write about a time a friend left you speechless.

It was the first year anniversary of my parents death. Looking back on the day now I can't even remember exactly what I did. It's all a blur to me. For some reason I wasn't with my sister. Thankfully, we now promise to always try to be together on this date but this October 15th, we were not.

All I remember about the day was getting a call from the office of my apartment building letting me know that there was a package waiting for me downstairs in the mail room. I was shocked. I wasn't expecting anything. I quickly went to retrieve it and rushed back up to apartment to open it.

It was a large square heavy box with no return address but my address had been handwritten and I could definitely recognize the handwriting. It was from my friend Tracy. I slowly opened it and could immediately tell that it was some kind of a scrapbook. It had a beautiful butterfly on the cover and if you know me at all, then you'll know that I love butterflies. As I began turning the pages, I realized that not only was it from Tracy but several of my other close girl friends too.


They had all contributed a page or two to this beautiful scrapbook. Each page was full of pictures of my friends and I together, collages of magazine cutouts of things they knew I liked, thoughtful poems and friendship quotes and sweet letters. So many memories of these cherished friendships filled this scrapbook.



Tears formed in my eyes as I scanned the pages and began reading the letters tucked into the clear covers around each page. I was left utterly speechless. No one had ever done something so incredibly kind for me in my life and I didn't know what to say. It had been such a hard day for me and knowing that I would have to endure many more year anniversaries of my parents deaths felt impossible. Just as I was feeling my lowest and most alone in the world, this heartfelt gift arrived and I suddenly didn't feel so alone anymore.

31 Day Photo Challenge-Day 7

31 Day Photo Challenge-Day 7: Post a picture of your most treasured item.

This is definitely a tough one. I think that my most treasured item would probably have to be my beloved scrapbooks. The picture on the left is of my nephew enjoying one of my many scrapbooks.

I have described them on here before as time machines. I have one for every year of my life since Freshman year of high school. I believe that I have 11 scrapbooks total! Whoa! They really do mean the world to me. Each album contains a part of life and I love that I can sit with one or two and dive right back into that time in my life. I've also done a really good job of writing in it as well, explaining who's who and what is exactly going on. Hopefully, when I'm old and gray, I can turn the pages of my scrapbooks and be instantly transported to that time and place.

When I'm ready, I spend a lot of time organizing all my pictures and the materials that I've collected for awhile like ticket stubs, wrist bands, hotel room keys, business cards, etc. I cut pictures out into fun shapes and sizes, attach stickers, magazine cut-outs and lots of colorful paper. Needless to say, it's quite an intense process.
Do you keep scrapbooks? What would be your most treasured item?

My Time Machines

So, ever since my Freshman year of high school, I've been making scrapbooks of my life. Over the years, I have definitely gotten a lot more creative with them. I think that I have at least 10 scrapbooks! They are my time machines. I can back to the past anytime I want with them. They certainly take up a lot of space so I only brought 2 with me here to LA. Well, now I have 3 here because this week I had to start another one. Yep, I am all caught up on my scrapbooking (yes, I'm making it a word!) as of right now. Whew! They are a lot of work and take up a lot of time. There is plenty of equipment too, colored papers, a ton of stickers, assorted pastes and glues, several scissors, magazine cut outs, pictures and other various memorabilia that I've kept. I've never really thought of myself as being super artistic so I think this gives me a chance to showcase that I really can be when I put my heart into it.

I don't mind all the work though, since I enjoy it so much. It gives me a chance to reminisce about the events that I've been to and the people that I've been spending time with. It really makes me appreciate my life and all that I've gotten to do and see so far. I guess my scrapbooks are kind of like my journal. I have a journal but I don't write regularly enough in it. It doesn't have my day to day adventures. Wait, isn't that what this blog is like? : ) I just know that when I'm older and getting a little senile and maybe even start to forget my glory days, I'll be able to look back at these scrapbooks and remember how much fun I had in my youth. I'll never forget my life with these books.

Another reason why I enjoy making scrapbooks is because of my mom. She and I started doing it together in the summers when we were home in the states. Part of the fun was going out to different stores and hunting down our supplies. Then we would gather all our materials and set up on the dining room table. It was something that we could both sit and do together and share in the experience. I can still picture us sitting across from each other and laughing up a storm while looking at pictures. Neither of us was very good at art but we tried and that's what counts, right? : ) When I scrapbook, I can't help but think of her and wonder what her future scrapbooks would have looked like. I am sure they would have been of grandchildren! : ) I think she would be so happy that I have continued to do it.

• "A true scrapbook addict is one who stages photographs to match paper she likes." -Unknown
• "Been there, scrapped that" -Unknown
• "And I'll bury my soul in a scrapbook, with the photographs there and the moths." - Leonard Cohen
• "Blessed are the children of scrapbookers, for they shall inherit the scrapbooks." -Unknown