Reflecting

Going through a person's belongings after they have passed away is just an odd experience especially when you are not blood related. I have done it only three times before (for my Grandmother and Jason's Grandparents) I will admit going through my Grandmother's things brought back memories and though it was hard I am glad that I did it. J's grandparents was just different - I knew them for a little while (not long enough) and both liked and respected them. It seemed in some respects invasive for me to be going through their belongings with the family and at the same time I learned some things about them that I hadn't known.

Going through a friend's belongings (even though it was just her books) was a completely different experience. Going through a Grandparent's belongings you have a lifetime of memories which help to remind you of what a full and wonderful life that they had and as sad as it is the memories are helpful. or maybe it has just been so long that my memory has changed and made it easier. In going through the books I was surprised to see some titles that I recognized that I didn't realize that she read making me wonder what else I didn't know or learn in the short time that I knew her.

My memories were not just of the times that we had together but of the times that we were going to have - the conversations that we had regarding the future that would never come.