Memory

At work I have a locker in the change room that I used when I went to the gym – DON”T LAUGH!!! I haven’t used the locker in…a while.

I really didn’t even know what was the in the locker as it has been so long.

The “been so long” part was a problem. I had absolutely no recollection of what the combination was for the lock – NONE, nope, nada. That was about 2 years ago.

Last week, I was walking down the hallway at work and the combination for my lock just popped in my head – JUST LIKE THAT!! I don’t know where it came from or even if it was the right combination. I headed over to the locker room and after trying a few different locks (as I couldn’t ‘quite’ remember which locker it was either) BOOM – It opened!!

I was actually quite stunned that it opened and then excited to see what was in there – or not excited if it was stinky gym clothes from a couple of years ago. The excitement didn’t last long. There was nothing to get excited about in there. I kept repeating the combination over and over in m head until I got back to my desk so that I could write it down.

Funny thing about memory, I can still remember my high school locker combination like it was yesterday... 7-57-34

Memories

When I was little I remember the 'little' bird around all the time. They were kind of a mousy brown and hopped around. I later discovered that they were called Chickadees. They were so cute and so small and EVERYWHERE!! I don't however remember the black and white ones as shown here in this picture.

As you get older, your focus changes on things. I suppose I didn't notice the little birds anymore. I am sure that they were there, I just didn't notice them or pay attention to them.

Life goes on and then it doesn't.

In October 2001 my dad died. It was very sudden and very unexpected and he was far too young. His wishes were to be cremated. We honoured those wishes. There is a cemetery not far from here that has scattering grounds. A lovely wooded ravine type area. There is a platform built that juts out over the ravine. From here is where you can scatter the ashes of your loved ones. This is what we chose to do for my dad.

As the ashes were being scattered and the tears were rolling down my face I saw a bunch of little tiny birds exactly like the one pictured above. I don't remember noticing them before - with this colouring. But there they were - LOTS of them happily flitting around. Now every time I see one of those birds, I think of my dad.