TEARS IN A SHOEBOX. Why she is going to KEEP your CARD FOREVER.
This is a story about Jo, a hardworking girl with a big heart. It’s a quick read about long awaited successes, new beginnings, and memories that you keep and can touch. After the story we’ll attempt to interlace our brain with our heart by adding a bit of logic. There’s a reason for everything…right? Let’s see...
Jo glided the boxcutter along the taped edges of the cardboard carton labeled “kitchen stuff” and plunged in, unwrapping and tossing the newspaper that packaged her random utensils. “Where was that wine opener”? Jo unpacked the box quickly, spreading the spoons, spatulas, and cutlery across the countertop. “Aha!” she exhaled finally with a joyful yawn.
Her, new-to-her, kitchen countertops were cluttered and stacked with boxes, house plants, pantry food, and wadded packing paper that had mindlessly landed there during the scurry to unload the u-haul in which she had packed her life. Today was her new beginning. Earlier that morning she had carried, from the moving truck, a bottle of cabernet and intentionally placed it safely in the corner of the kitchen, setting her sights on an empty truck followed by a well deserved glass of wine. She hadn’t planned for the wine opener. She eased the cork from the bottle and poured herself an unpacked glass of the aromatic red. She leaned against the kitchen counter swirling the wine in her glass and rewinding her day, recalling the endless number of boxes and pieces of furniture she had helped stuff and maneuver through her new doorway. Jo savored her first sip of wine, allowing it to pamper her sore, weary muscles. She didn’t mind the soreness though, not today. Today her aching arms and legs were a reward for a goal accomplished, and a welcomed remnant of her hard work.
Jo climbed across the piled floor to an empty chair and fell in. It had been a long, but successful day. She was on her own and had finally saved enough money to purchase her first place. She glanced around her cozy, new home proud of how far she had come. Only two years ago the reality of this had felt impossible, like a race with no finish line. Jo took a second sip of wine and leaned deep into her chair. For the first time that day, she sat still and scanned the settled confusion of a hurried move. Stretched before her was an endless obstacle course of piled boxes, scattered furniture, and heaps of clothes. Jo pulled off the baseball cap that had held back her long, thick, hair while she had carried and scooted those boxes from truck to home. Combing her fingers through her tangled mess, her eyes locked on an old familiar box that she hadn’t seen for years. And it made Jo smile.
Amidst the clutter and piles of things yet to do, was that old box that she could never find when she wanted to, yet would magically appear when she needed it most. It was her box of whispers. Jo pulled the worn, ripped cardboard box towards her and laughed, recalling the day she had written “Keep This” in big, intimidating letters on the side of the box. It was the summer after she had graduated high school. Her mom had insisted she sort through her things before heading out of state to college. “Your sister’s going to need that space” she said. “Make a pile of the things you want to get rid of…and here are a couple of boxes to pack the stuff you want to keep.” Jo had only kept enough to fill one box. She didn’t consider herself very sentimental, at least not then. Now, she was so grateful she had that box.
She carefully opened the tattered carton as her mind flooded backwards to her childhood. Yearbooks from her four years at the same high school were stacked along the side of the box. Photos and more photos were piled and wrapped in old rubber bands. She had kept trophies and award ribbons, her well-used softball glove and, of course, her baby shoes. At the bottom of the box was a shoe box, and Jo smiled when she saw it. The shoebox had been taped and repaired and wore two rubber bands to keep the lid on. Inside the box were letters, and cards, and notes from friends that had been passed back and forth in class. She shuffled through the short stack of colored envelopes, stopping to open the ones from Alice. Alice was her great grandmother. Better known as Nanny. Nanny had been gone for many years, but as she opened the cards, Nanny was right there beside her.
Alice had lived many states away, yet she was always Jo’s most special grandmother. Every birthday, as long as Jo could remember, Nanny would send her a card. Sometimes, inside the card she would put a dollar. As Jo got older, she would send five dollars. As a kid, Jo had loved receiving money. As an adult, Jo held tight to the memory that seeped from that card. She adored her Nanny. Jo was always so excited when she would run to the mailbox and find a card addressed to her. She would know who it was from, even before she opened it. Most of the cards didn’t say anything, they were simply signed, “Love Nanny”. Jo had kept them all. Happy tears streaked her cheeks as she sat back and remembered her great grandmother. She wished she could show Alice her new home. Jo wanted to tell her about the past two years…how she had grown.
Jo could almost put the cards in order, just by looking at Nanny’s signature and how it had changed and shook as she got older. She missed her. She was so grateful to have found her cards. They always showed up when she needed them most. It was no coincidence that she had unboxed that memory tonight. Her first night in her own place. “To you Nanny”, she toasted through her tears. Sinking back in her chair, with her memories and her glass of wine, Jo knew that would be the last and only box she would open tonight…
A memory can stop you in your tracks…
You know that song? That song that plays on the radio when you least expect it? Sweeping you back to a moment? A moment that made an impression on your life? Songs can do that. So can Cards. Whether you want to remember, or don’t want to forget…keeping handwritten cards and letters is a beautiful way to preserve a memory.
Jo was more sentimental than she thought she was. When the time came for Jo to go to college, she got rid of a lot of stuff. But not her cards and letters. On the list of items named that were in that box..the cards and letters held the least monetary value. But they held the most priceless memories.
Have you ever saved a card or letter?
Tucked it away in a keepsake box?
Why did you do that?
Maybe this will help us understand. Topic specific blogs and well respected publications, agree that the “WHY” has to do with the recipients deep appreciation of the sender’s TIME and ATTENTION. It’s about taking the TIME to pick out a card and write a note that is only for them. It’s knowing that the sender ATTENTION was on them specifically when they signed it, sealed it, and put a stamp on the envelope.
A blog post by runawayrepetti.com discusses her keepsake cards and letters.. “I keep boxes of all the letters, cards, and notes I’ve ever received. It means more to me to have this collection than any amount of ‘likes’ or followers I could ever gather on any social network. These written words reflect a real moment where someone took the time to write something meaningful, not a fleeting thought or careless musing simply shared with the tap of a finger.”
Jo cherished her cards and letters way back when… WAY before personal computers, email, and social media. The TIME and ATTENTION mattered then, and maybe it matters even more today.
Here are a few reasons people might keep their handwritten cards today…
-They believe a hand written, mailed card is more heartfelt than a text or an email.
-A card is a tangible gift of thoughtfulness that you can keep forever
-Handwritten cards and letters prove that you were on this earth. (In other words, you become real, tangible; not only a name on your google search or stored on your cloud)
-They are a marker. They bookmark a memory of someone you care about. Rereading that card brings back to life the memories you shared.
Jo ran to the mailbox, excited to see a hand addressed card in the mail, just for her! Have you ever felt that excitement? The excitement of opening your mailbox, shuffling through your bills and credit card offers, and uncovering that unexpected, hand addressed card from a friend or loved one? I know I do. A popular Gallup Poll found that 94% of Americans love, love, LOVE getting a letter or card in the mail. I bet that you know someone in that 94%
Hopefully by now you’ve decided to send someone a card! A card for any reason or no reason at all. I think that’s a beautiful thing! Who knows…you might end up in a shoebox. Maybe more importantly, you might make someone’s day, or be the reason behind someone’s happy tears.
