M Is for Memories

Memories are a tricky thing. Triggered by pictures, smells, tastes, sounds.
Our trip up north this last weekend was full of memories. And only the memory card on my phone to record it all.

Will you remember how many times I forced you outside to play?
Or will you remember dancing in the rain, catching Slytherin the snake, and setting watermelon-rind chipmunk traps?

Will you remember all the snacks you were refused?
Or will you remember riding our bikes to the ice cream cart and Evie eating her first cone, minus any ice cream?

Will you remember fighting over whose turn it was to sleep on the floor?
Or will you remember playing “Hobo-Bobo-Bobo”—jumping from bed to bed with pillows piled high?

Will you remember the whining and complaining about nothing to do?
Or will you remember the scavenger hunt to find things to fill our painted shadow boxes?

Will you remember crying while Mom forced you to ride your bike uphill?
Or will you remember stopping to find “veggie treat” grass or “wishes,” blowing their helicopter seeds across the open field?

Will you remember giant mosquitoes and their annoying bites?
Or will you remember learning to recognize stinging nettle, wading in the river, and Lily pulling her shoe out of the mucky riverbed?

Will you remember the movies I refused to let you watch?
Or will you remember the hours spent shouting, “Expelliarmous” and “Eat slugs” with your wilderness wands?

Will you remember your anger at my proposition that we write letters to your siblings?
Or will you remember riding our bikes to the post office, meeting Lilli the postmaster, and getting google-eyed stickers?

Will you remember the slightly under-equipped cabin?
Or will you remember the joy from your first shower?

Will you remember all the times you thought about your friends?
Or will you remember all the time we had together, playing endless rounds of Blink, Connect 4, and Mancala?

Will you remember the lack of toys and books?
Or will you remember how your best toys are your siblings and your imagination?

Will you remember the whining, crying, arguing, fighting, pouting?
Or will you remember the laughter and joy and happiness?

So will I.





Linking up to Alphabet Soup with Jenny Matlock.


And please excuse my lack of comments on all of your blogs the last two weeks. I plan to rectify that . . . soon. Brad and I are off for a long weekend. Back Sunday night.