Monday, August 29, 2016

Why I Keep a Memory Box

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I do not know when it started, this habit of mine to keep trinkets of things that can make me remember memories I liked. But the things inside this box tell me that I have been doing this for more or less fifteen years, and I am not planning to stop anytime soon.

                                          
My memory box is now overflowing to the point that the things I want to put in it won’t fit in. So I got a new box, and I am now trying to make them as special as this one. I cannot justify the reason why I am writing something so personal to me, but only because I want to memorize its contents so the memories will never be lost in vain when piles of other boxes are filled with fresher ones.

Inside my box are letters. Letters fill my heart with joy whenever someone gives them to me. Whatever is written in it makes my heart happy, especially those that are meaningful and truthful. I especially love those ones that are quite unexpected because surely they tell hundreds of meanings that I can hold on to so long as these letters are with me. I am an old soul and a hopeless romantic like that.


This box also holds my firsts to things. The ticket to the first concert of my favorite singer and band I attended to is there. The first time I went to the first 7-eleven here in Lipa was Christmas and I bought a hot dog in stick, and I kept the stick to remind me of that day when so many things happened.

I remember, I used to work as an assistant tutor when I was in high school, and it was my first time to ever receive a holiday bonus from my employer. I could still relieve the giddiness I felt upon receiving it. I kept the envelope and card it went with.

There is the number tag to the first and last Zombie run I joined to. I can still remember, I was running with a bunch of people when we all heard a banging sound somewhere behind and we all looked back and saw that someone hit their head on a signboard. Wow! It was really loud I must say. Then, there was this Zombie who was blocking the road and I literally have to jump down the sewers to get away from him because I thought he was so scary.

Then, there were all these other firsts. The first time I went to Enchanted Kingdom, I was already working. I took a day off from work, met with my best friends and went there. It was fun!

Of course, there are all other firsts kept in this box. I can only tell so much!



Here, are some of the most significant gifts I received from friends and other important people that have created impact in my life. There were gifts from a cancer patient when I was still working at a cancer institute few years back. There were gifts from best friends I haven’t seen in a long time, and there were gifts from teachers and aunts who taught me life-lessons well.


Then, there are these two video tapes which I remember were from our school project back in high school. I just wish to find a video player for these so I can see what’s in them. I know it will be fun!


I also keep in there the recognition cards I received from grade one to fourth year high school from my Alma matter.


I am also a junkie to keeping receipts. Those fun memories with family and friends have to be remembered through receipts from cafes and restaurants we shared those joyous moments in.



There are also random photos of my family and friends, and some sketches and copies of short stories friends gave me because they know I love reading short stories and I appreciate art in all forms.

You see, not everybody is the same. Some keep memories through posting photos in their social media, while some write journals and diaries. For me, I do it all and this. Keeping a part of that memory through a physical object for me to touch and feel is very essential for me, so I can have something physical to remind me of the better days when the down times come. So, I can tell myself that I have been there, I lived that moment and I can be better again. These things for some are irrelevant, but these tell my stories – the stories that made me who I am now and the stories that make me stronger and better.


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