In my every day life of work and play, it’s not often I take time to acknowledge what’s important to me. However, our current Northwoods weather has prompted me to ponder.
From Winter to Fire Danger
Three weeks ago it looked like winter was far from over with 3-4 feet of snow on the ground. But what a difference a week makes! We have experienced temperatures in the 70’s and 80’s! There remains little chance for snow to hang on. While exuberant that winter has ceased, May is the month when we can expect high fire danger before the grass is green and the trees leaf out. Today is one of those critically-high, extreme fire danger days with dry, gusty winds and high daytime temperatures.
What’s Important?
In the thirty years Annie’s Woolens has resided in Wisconsin’s Northwoods, we have not been threatened directly by a forest fire. However, all of us are aware of the potential and remain on the alert. So this state of affairs prompted me to ask my husband what one thing he would grab if we had to leave our house in a hurry. He was not sure. I wasn’t either. But with some time, my answer became clear: I would grab 2 bracelets that my mother made. She was a silversmith. I have been without both parents for a number of years. The few physical items I possess keep the memories of my parents with me. I wear my father’s watch every day. And I love to wear the bracelets my mother made as a way of holding her close to me. In all of the stuff that we possess, I find it interesting to think about what rises to the top in importance.
I would grab my granmother’s travel journal and her locket that has her name engraved on it. She was so precious to me and I cherish those items as well as memories of her.
This is a beautiful memory of your grandmother, Laura. Thank you for sharing.