On a trip this week to Pottery Barn Kids and Teens, I went down memory lane.  Daughter Tara, granddaughters Mary Grace (12), Elsie (10), and Virginia (5) and I were shopping for a new bed for Elsie.  One of the sections had a kids’ kitchen, and Virginia immediately went to it and began playing.  Flashback to 2006 when Mary Grace, who was one year and nine months old, did the same thing at a Pottery Barns Kids store in Atlanta.  This is recorded in my recently published book of that time, A year in the Life of a Recovering Spendaholic, on page 124.  That was December of 2006, and Elsie was born a couple of months later, and Virginia not until almost six years later.  It is amazing to me that it is now 2017, and these precious granddaughters are growing up so quickly.  Whenever I make a comment about how fast they are growing, my husband Mike replies, “That is what they are supposed to do!”  Being a Futurist, he is very focused on looking forward, while I am often looking back and reminiscing.

We all know that time stands still for no one.  We also know that once experienced, our hours, days, and years are gone forever.  That is why our moments should be cherished.  For it is our moments that we remember with great clarity.  My example of our recent visit to Pottery Barn Kids and the flashback to the similar experience years previously was a moment in time never to be forgotten.  We can save time, if not in a bottle, in our memory.  We all have moments worth remembering.

I have had many moments worth remembering with these granddaughters and our daughter Tara, the past couple of weeks.  Although we see each other at least once a month, the visits are usually short, since a six and a half hours’ drive, and busy schedules for all, separates us.  This visit was for twelve days.  We started the visit in Edisto Beach in South Carolina, then went to Oak Island for a few days, and then to Raleigh.   Mike and Stephen, our son-in-law, were not able to be with us due to work and other commitments.  One of Mike’s “other commitments” was a long visit with his dad in Florida, which also included moments that will last forever.  We are both grateful for these times.

Creating memorable moments does not require beaches, or any activities.  In fact, we do not need to even “create” the moments, they happen; we just need to be in touch with them.  Suzy, soon to be six years old, and her family, had such moments this week.  Suzy started kindergarten, and for the first couple of days, she wasn’t so sure she would go!  And then, as quickly as she decided she might not go, she was in!

A memorable moment of a different type was my visit yesterday with a friend who is dealing with terminal cancer. My friend is at peace with her circumstances.  She has had a good life, and is comforted by her relationship with her daughter and her son.  We should all be so blessed.  Visiting with her was indeed a memorable moment.

Now, what are your memorable moments?  What moments make your heart sing?  It is important to be in touch with those.

The latest memorable moment of the visit with Tara, Mary Grace, Elsie, and Virginia occurred as they pulled out of the driveway yesterday, when Virginia rolled down her window, waved goodbye and yelled out, “Nana, don’t forget that I LOVE You!”  How could I ever forget?!