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The Things I Carry

It’s amazing what we carry from our pasts into the future.

We learn so much in our youth and carry those things into our lives with us.

The new experiences we have, send us off with new things to carry.

At a young age, I learned to sew and crochet.

In the entirety of my life, I’ve almost never been without access to a sewing machine.

Knitting is not my forte, but I can crochet a mean baby blanket.

I’ve carried these things with me almost all my life.

I carry my love for nature and outdoor working meditations.

I carry my love for babies, old people, and trees.

I carry my delight in a good metaphor.

I carry the knowledge of who I am and what I value.

I carry the love–of and for–my family, always.

I carry with me a piece of the heart of every human being and every pet I’ve ever loved.

I also carry my fear of thunderstorms and tornadoes.

My distaste for narrow-minded people.

My distrust for politicians.

My penchant for bad language.

~~~

From my college days, I carry both the peace and trepidation of being alone in the forests of the Adirondacks.

I carry the power found in the moment of conquering a mountain named Giant.

I carry the exhilaration of being bathed in the northern lights on more than one occasion.

I carry the calm of a canoe, a lake, and a foggy morning.

~~~

From my Navy days, I carry the honor of serving my country and my pride in being the first female Engineman at my duty station.

And the thrill of living in Hawaii.

Along with my husband, (above), I carry the living memory of the day we got married forty-three years ago today.

The sound of the waterfall we were married next to.

The smell of the flowers.

The beauty of the island.

~~~

I carry with me a thousand different truths, each a paradox of its own.

Like the fact that I am special and unique. I’m one of a kind.

And that every person is special, unique, and one of a kind.

We are all the same, and different.

A paradox, for sure.

The only constant in life is change.

Failure leads to success.

These contradictions make up the foundation of life, and they are along for the ride too.

~~~

Over the years, I have carried every book I’ve ever read, every song I’ve ever sung, every sunrise and every sunset I have ever experienced, every sweet dream I’ve ever dreamed, and every hope and longing I’ve ever had.

But of all the things I have carried throughout my life, my favorite by far is the love, laughter, and relationship that I’ve shared with my family and friends.

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6 Replies

  1. Feyzer

    I have carried your grandchildren 💙 and they will carry your love for them. I also carry your son around lol

    1. carol

      And I am ever grateful for all of it! 😉

      P.S. Please put my son down. Your back is too messed up for that!

  2. Susan Manry

    Hey my friend. I am so sorry I am late getting back with you. I have been busy and blessed to be with and travel and see all my family this month. I love this writing and boy at all the things I have carried for years. Alot my friend!!!! You said you had gone back to work part time. What are doing these days? I hope you are not working too hard and have time to enjoy life. Love you my friend.

    1. carol

      I went back to work at a nursing home in Rome to help a friend out. It’s tough all over finding workers. Just working part-time until I couldn’t work anymore (too painful). I left a couple weeks ago. Mean old Mr. Arthritis has not been able to dampen my spirits though. I, with my niece’s help, planted a bucket garden and I found a tiny cucumber on one of my plants this morning! We’ve just been working outside as we can and taking days to rest as needed. I’m glad you were able to spend time vacationing with family-that’s the best! Love you, too my friend! ❤

  3. Judy Schwartz

    Your paragraph that begins “over the years…” immediately its repetitions brought to mind a Perry Como song of my upper teen years- and every song I’ve ever sung….all I do the whole day thru, is dream of you! And as that song whirls around in my head? I’m reminded that Debbie Reynolds sang that too!

    1. carol

      Aunt Judy, I love to send swirling songs to folks to enjoy for a day or so. Glad you got one! Memories are precious and I love it when a simple phrase brings one up. I hope you has a nice visit with it…

      Love you…c

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