TRANSFERENCE
If you want a concrete example of how much your life has changed, moved forward and on, just get a new address book. Mine was literally falling apart at the seams, and I am unwilling to go all electronic, so I bought a bright and shiny new one. It's green and blue and holds the promise of spring.
Over the course of several days I looked over the addresses in the old book and decided which ones would move with me to the new one. Lots of scraps of paper were stuffed in and around the old book, Post-It notes, too. Again I carefully evaluated which of those were part of the me going forward, versus the old me I was actively choosing to leave behind.
I was struck by all the name changes; some due to divorce, some due to actually changing a name, and a life, from past to future.
And the deaths. No longer Doug and Kelly, just Doug. No longer Ike and Verneice, just Verneice. No longer, no longer, no longer.
The additions brought great joy: fellow bloggers, special needs moms, spiritual seekers, new friends.
I am done now. My new address book holds about the same number of names the old one held, but the difference is the names that are in there now are all my people. My kin. My tribe.
* Photo from www.uploadmypix.co.uk
11 comments:
not as good as a new pillow - but still good :)
It's the part I hate most about new address books - leaving behind the ones who have passed on. Just so sad. Then again, I hate using ink in the new ones because hey, you know Aunt Irene is already one foot in the grave...
It's why I have several address books halfway filled in and one that's scratched up miserably. I can't let go of my memories. :)
Yes. Love.
This reminded me of how I felt last year doing my Christmas cards. So hard to realize that I would no longer be sending cards to some! Maybe a new address book will help me feel better.
So much new growth in your world, Miss Carrie. Beautiful. (And pruning sometimes hurts. No way around that.)
i don't trust the electronic version so i keep a back up paper copy address book AND I have kept my grandmother's address books. some think it's weird but i when i look thru them i experience the most wonderful memories. and to look at her elongated handwriting and read her little notes in the margins....reminds me of simple times (in the eyes of a child anyways) and i smile when i leaf thru them and god knows we can always use an extra smile....i guess i am saying/agreeing that there is so much history in a simple address book.......
It seem like you are nesting. With the new pillow and the new address book. Are you getting ready for a puppy?
the thing i love about you most is the fact that you stil have an address "book".
please tell me that you hand-address your xmas cards, too.
Amazing reading this. I have been looking for just the right new address book all summer. I'm ready for all the reasons you mention here. I've saved my old ones and it's always interesting to go back and see who I was "then" by who my peeps were. I especially appreciate those names who travel from book to book to book.
I need to do this! But I always keep my old ones for awhile, tucked away. Just in case.
I think you asked me for my new addy, but I wasn't sure we would have one...lol! I will email you, k?
:)
I can't stand getting a new address book.
Transferring the information takes forever and there are those people who had five entries in my old one simply because they have no roots and I know I have to leave an entire page available for them in the new one.
I love the idea of it, but somehow actually getting a new one and making it work for me give me hives. I'm sure there's something there, but I'm not willing to explore it right now...
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