Trinkets

My fondest and most treasured trinkets were collected from over a span of 2 decades. The binoculars were from an antique store near San Francisco almost 20 years ago. The 3 miniature picture frames were bought at the Takashimaya in New York.

They are prized because of the memories attached to them. Among the many times I went to New York, these 3 occasions were extra special. The first time attending a cousin's wedding, the second time, also a wedding, as the maid of honor at a very good friend's wedding and the 3rd time, spending Christmas with my newly wed friends at their home, with a Labrador taking 2/3 of my bed, and us being bossed around by a little Yorkie.

Each trinket served as a momento of these precious memories. I remembered crying so hard at my friend's wedding at the chapel that the best man came over to ask me if I were hyperventilating. Luckily, the bride and I decided to put on clear mascara that morning when the lady did our makeup. Actually it was the groom who cried first when the pastor read the letter the bride wrote to him. Me, I choked up on the first sentence.

I was so happy the newly weds invited me to stay at their new home the next year, and got acquainted with Jed, the massive Lab with the biggest heart, the gentlest temperament and the saddest of eyes. Each night for those 2 weeks, I had to jostle with him to get 1/3 of my bed back to sleep on. Well, Jed had thunderous snores, too.

As for the little Yorkie, he would boss Jed around and oh, they loved to chase the postman. It was funny to see Jed following Potato Cake's command to go "chase". Jed would stand guard wagging his tail while the little guy yapped his way out. It's funny.

Jed passed away last year.

When I read what my friend wrote me of Jed's last days, my tears welled up and blurred the words on the screen. But I am so honored to have met this big gentle guy.

When the brush fires raged thru' California, people were asked what were the few items they'd brought with them, when they saw the fires coming so rapidly. Almost all said, their pets, photos of loved ones and items that had personal meaning to them, and funnily enough, not the items with the most dollar value.