Making Memories to Last a Lifetime

You may remember that Janna and I have another sister who lives in Belgrade, MT.  She is between us in age and ahead of us in the creativity department.  In April of 2006, Barb sent me a birthday card telling me of a tradition she wanted to start of sending the same birthday card back and forth to one another.  The idea was to attach a note including an interesting thing that had happened that year along with any other family news or tidbits.  I was completely intrigued by the idea, and tucked the card away where I would remember to get it out for her December birthday.  When December came, I not only remembered that I that was returning the card, but also found it (wonder of wonders) and included my newsy note.  Year after year we have sent the card back and forth.  It took about four years to completely cover the card with our notes.  Then we started attaching pages with staples and paper clips.

In April of this year, I was somewhat surprised to receive a package in the mail from Barb.  When I opened it, I saw that our birthday card had been converted to a “birthday notebook”.  She had cleverly decorated the front of a spiral bound blank page notebook.  On the first page, the original card was displayed.  And on the pages following, she attached the notes, now separated, each one on its own page. 

I cannot tell you what a treasure this has become.  As I review the notes, I see that all kinds of things have been documented over the past 5 years.  The 400^th birthday of the founding of Jamestown on April 29, 1607 (April 29^th is my birthday.  I may look like it some days, but I was not born in 1607), current books we are reading, results of presidential elections, movies of interest, new hobbies we are pursuing, national disasters such as Katrina, as well as the 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan this year, what our kids are doing,  and the loss of our grandmother.  Along with these bits of historical journaling, we have shared our lives and hearts with each other. 

 Each year I look forward to getting the card in the mail and seeing what news will be included.  As I take a few minutes to read over the notes we have written to one another, I am grateful for a sister who had such an awesome idea and for the many ways she has enriched my life.  Our goal is to send the card/notebook back and forth for 20 years.  I will be 75 then.   I keep you “posted” when we make it!

RomaLee