Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: SKELETON IN THE CLOSET (11/30/17)
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TITLE: Baby Steps Since 19?! | Previous Challenge Entry
By Terri Kilroy
12/07/17 -
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Amongst her many mementos, emerged an odd colored book labeled, “Our Baby.” Okay, so I thought, what’s another few minutes added to the existing hour of sidetrack time? I flipped through its fragile pages and soon discovered this one had my name on it. Mom had maintained these little slices of history on her first three of seven children. What happened after child number three is anybody's guess, I just hope the bookless didn’t take it personally.
Meanwhile, I got caught up in the details of my early development. Weight, and length at birth, various medical and growth stats along with good ole’ black and white snapshots meticulously documenting life all the way to the age of seven. Milestone events and birthday party listings of who and how many showed up with what gift and so on. It seemed more like a popularity contest than a child’s personal achievement record—still, I was riveted.
I managed to block an oncoming avalanche with one hand and continued to rifle through the pink pages with the other. When I finally reached the inside back cover, I came across the words, “comical remarks.” I allegedly crafted these one liners at age five. It's incredible to see how much the culture has changed since the 19!?'s. What would be considered amusing in that day compared to today is noteworthy. No doubt, these quips would never have been uttered by a contemporary child, but you may appreciate this one for nostalgia sake—
I told my mother one morning that I'd had a bad dream. I dreamt that she and Grandmother, while waiting for a train, fell onto the subway tracks, into an oncoming car and everybody laughed. Mom said, “Why did they laugh instead of feeling sorry for us?”
I replied, “Because you were still in your pajamas.” (age 5)
Outside of a wary chuckle from Mom, I’m sure the seriousness of what happened in the dream would not have been taken lightly. And she may have had to limit my time spent in front of the TV, to early mornings. Still, I think the five-year old’s perspective brings up a great point.
Nowadays, when you see people waiting for a train in their pajamas, it's not likely to evoke laughter. But what it does evoke is a wave of gratitude for some of us, that they're at least wearing something.
When my focus departed from the inner sanctum of those years of antiquity, back to a messy garage, I accepted the permanent loss of my missing papers. I also thanked God for those fleeting moments of blissful reminiscence and a renewed appreciation for the value of innocence. Something to cherish rather than trade in, it is one of the few things that transcends both space and time and crosses over all cultural boundaries. And when embraced, it brings you closer to the One who authored it.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8, ESV)
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This seemed a little heavy with fraught thought except for the time of the turning pages.
Nicely done.
Blessings~