Lesson 8: Objects

• Look around at your belongings until you find something that sparks a strong memory (a family heirloom, a phone that delivered unexpected news, a piece of clothing that you purchased for a special night). Tell the story. I think of all the things I currently still own (I got rid of a lot of possessions during my transition from old married life to my current life) the most memories are tied to the piano/keyboard I own. Currently it is wrapped in heavy blankets and under my bed. My parents purchased it when I was a junior in High School. It was some super expensive cutting edge tech at the time. It can hook up to a computer and all kinds of crazy things I never use it for. I just used it to play the piano. My sister, my mom and countless people that came through our home. When I was a early married and going to college I was talking an ear training/aural theory class that meant I needed to sit in front of a piano to do my homework. I could do that on campus but the training rooms with pianos where constantly full. It was such a pain. I complained to my mom and she had my dad send me that piano. By this time my mom had upgraded to an electric piano that looks like a baby grand piano. It's so gorgeous but I digress... so I've had that piano since. I believe that was... 2000? Maybe 2001. I also still have my wedding dress. My attachment to that dress though is more about just how much I loved that dress. I loved it SO MUCH. There are places that will take your wedding dress and cut it up to make clothes for stillborn babies that need burial outfits. Because of all my miscarriages (which I don't believe I'm blogged about) this idea really, really appeals to me and some day that's going to be what I do with it.

• Is there an important object from your past that you don't have anymore? What memories does it trigger? Not any one thing particular. There's a whole host of things from my marriage I got rid of. Camela (God love her) stopped me from throwing away my wedding albums. She kept them for years and years until my oldest daughter asked for them - which is exactly why she kept them.

• What was your most prized possession as a kid? Why did you love it? The first thing that came to mind is a dress my mother made me. I wish I could put my hands on a picture of it. I LOVED that dress so much. It spun in the coolest way and it fit so perfectly. It had this drop waist that was in a V and then all this fabric that laid so cool. I grew up in the south so in PE sometimes we had "Square Dancing Day" and I always wore that dress for those days. God it was perfection!

• What is your most prized possession now? Why is it so special? Honestly, I don't think I really have one at the moment. I'm casting my brain around inside my head trying to think of something I care a ton about or would never give up but I'm not.... WAIT. I have one. My KITCHENAIDE STAND MIXER. I've had that since during my marriage but it was a gift from my mother. She bought me that for my birthday when I could never have afforded it and when it was also more than she could afford in that moment. But she research and found me a professional sized refurbished one and it is my favorite thing in my kitchen. You'd have to pry that from my cold dead fingers. lol

• If your residence were on fire, what would you make sure not to leave behind? I'd grab my children and my computers and phones. Everything lives on there and everything else is replaceable. Even with the computers and phones most of that is backed up somewhere. Of course now my stand mixer is on my mental list ... haha.

• What objects do you use to enhance your life (maybe you use an antique teacup instead of a plain old mug, or have a collection of your favorite books, or perhaps a travel memento)? What is it about the object that makes it special? How does it make you feel? I have all sorts of little things that pamper me or make specific activities special. I have a specific cup and specific sheets and specific pillows... I'm a comfort seeking creature.

• Attempt to write a short essay from a special objects point of view. What is that item's life story? This is a super cute question or prompt. And I might come back and do it. I even have a story forming in my head and that piano. It involves my sister.

But I gotta get on with my day!