Monday, January 01, 2007
The Little Things
For a few days before Christmas, Shelly and Ellie and I paid a surprise visit to my parents in Utah. (See Shelly's blog (on sidebar) for a more complete account of the surprise.) It's always fun to go "home" again to see them, especially at Christmastime, when things are supposed to be more family-oriented.
Christmas at my parents' house, though, doesn't always remind me fully of the Christmases I spent growing up. I grew up in Salt Lake City, but during my mission, my parents moved to Provo. I myself have not lived in Provo any longer than any other BYU alum, so even though my parents have lived there for 10 years now (ouch!), it's not like my childhood home or anything.
What is fun to come home to, however, is all the little things lying around my parents' house. I noticed this a lot more this year than I ever have. Ellie noticed the little porcupine pencil holder I remember my mom purchasing when I was in elementary school. A lot of the Christmas decorations that were on display had been made by me and my brothers. The same old pictures were on the walls that had been on the walls of the ancestral home in SLC. The longevity of some seemingly trivial things that my parents used every day when I was little, and still use every day.
It makes me wonder, at this New Year season how many of the little things we just go pick up on a whim at Target will conjure a cherished memory for Ellie when she brings her kids to visit us at Christmas thirty years down the road.
Christmas at my parents' house, though, doesn't always remind me fully of the Christmases I spent growing up. I grew up in Salt Lake City, but during my mission, my parents moved to Provo. I myself have not lived in Provo any longer than any other BYU alum, so even though my parents have lived there for 10 years now (ouch!), it's not like my childhood home or anything.
What is fun to come home to, however, is all the little things lying around my parents' house. I noticed this a lot more this year than I ever have. Ellie noticed the little porcupine pencil holder I remember my mom purchasing when I was in elementary school. A lot of the Christmas decorations that were on display had been made by me and my brothers. The same old pictures were on the walls that had been on the walls of the ancestral home in SLC. The longevity of some seemingly trivial things that my parents used every day when I was little, and still use every day.
It makes me wonder, at this New Year season how many of the little things we just go pick up on a whim at Target will conjure a cherished memory for Ellie when she brings her kids to visit us at Christmas thirty years down the road.
Comments: Post a Comment
