MY SITE
  • BLOG
  • ABOUT DONNA
  • CONTACT

​​FUN

WITH
​
HEIRLOOMS





A JOURNAL FOR CHRISTMAS, 2.0

12/26/2015

7 Comments

 
Picture
Sam and Allison gave me this journal to complete and return to them. It's a place to share my own history and a whole lot more -- just as I gave my mother 28 years ago. To see more of Susan Branch's beautiful work, visit: www.susanbranch.com
he year was 1987. It was both the worst and the best year possible. In January that year, we fell hard from the huge high of having our first baby, Sam, the previous year.

We learned on a cold but mockingly sunny January 1987 day at Riley Hospital that Sam had the heart defect Tetrology of Fallot, and would require open-heart surgery.

In a matter of moments, we experienced both horror and hope: horror that he would go through this; hope that doctors said he could be fixed. The following July, at 11 months old, Sam’s open-heart surgery took place – the scariest day of my life – and a little over a month later we took our baby home in time to celebrate his first birthday – happiness – and in our post-trauma, begin to relax and move on toward a normal life.

That Christmas of 1987, I gave my mother a project. It was a fill-in-the-blank memory book about her life. I wrote this: Mom, Here is a winter 1988 project for you. If you would work on this a little at a time I’m sure it would be a wonderful keepsake for Sam someday. Love, Donna.

I’m not sure when she handed it back, but she did, all neatly filled out, with some family genealogy, favorite memories, story of how she met my dad, remarks such as her favorite entertainer (Clark Gable) and songs (Irving Berlin tunes).

Her completed memory book was tucked away in our glass-front antique cabinet with our other special books, and basically – I forgot about it. Until this morning.

One of my Christmas gifts yesterday from son, Sam, and his wife, Allison,  was a fill-in-the-blank journal about my life, called Mom, Tell Me Your Story.

My daughter-in-law Allison told me that she was excited for me to complete the book and at some point, return it to her and Sam.

This morning I sat down to fill out a couple of pages and thought I’d look in Sam’s baby book for some dates. Next to his baby book was that journal of my mother’s from the winter of 1988.

I spent some time reading Mom’s memories, such as that Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the first president she voted for, and that she was most proud of me when I was in 4-H. Mom wrote, “She was very dedicated to her projects and worked very hard and had great displays.”

How did I not know that she felt that way?

On the last page of the book, under the writing prompt:  I hope you’ll always remember, Mom wrote to Sam that she hoped he’d grow up recalling:

Coming to the farm where your mom grew up and all the things you enjoyed while here. How much your grandma and grandpa loved to see you and dad and mom come. Always love and respect your dad and mom. You were very ill when you were a little 1-year-old and had your heart operation. Many prayers were said for you from many people and they were answered.

Wow. My daughter-in-law Allison could have had no idea at the double gift she gave me. The book for my own recollections is lovely, yes, and the gift of reading my mother’s thoughts and memories in her own hand – priceless.

At last, I know just when the right time will be to hand over my mother’s memory book to Sam. It will go to him when I hand back my memory book.

I just hope it doesn’t take me 28 years to complete. 
Picture
Christmas Day 2015: Brian, Ben (in his "ugly Colts sweater," holding Reggie, Sam and Allison. These are my loves.
7 Comments
Janet Sparks
12/26/2015 02:13:25 pm

This reminds me. I have two such books in a drawer waiting for me to fill for each set of grandkids. Better get my memory bank on recall and pen in hand.

Reply
Donna Cronk
12/26/2015 03:26:17 pm

I do think these are great keepsakes and more so as the years go by. I am grateful that my DIL bought me this thoughtful book.

Reply
Ray Moscowitz
12/27/2015 09:27:49 am

Beautifully done by a first-class journalist.

Reply
Donna Cronk
12/27/2015 12:06:23 pm

You are too kind, Ray. I wonder if you recall when I had to be off work as Attica editor for several months due to Sam's surgery. NNI and Attica publisher Joe Mitchell and staff were very good to me.

Reply
Debbie M. link
12/30/2015 05:05:56 am

Oh Donna, these are the types of gifts that keep on giving even after so many years! My mother-in-law and dad have started to write out their life stories, but I love the idea of prompts (and fill in the blank) to make it easier to record family stories. (Thanks for sharing your story and the gift idea!)

Reply
Donna Cronk
11/24/2016 11:12:06 pm

Eleven months down the road, I've still got a lot to do to complete this project! Very thought- and memory-provoking!

Reply
Carlos V link
5/21/2022 04:07:20 pm

Hello, nice post.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    DONNA CRONK

    FUN WITH HEIRLOOMS
    is my most popular program for 2023, inspired by my memoir There's a Clydesdale in the Attic: Reflections on Keeping and Letting Go. Contact me to hear about my programs for your event.

    CONTACT: Let's talk about it. Call me at 317-224-7028. Email:
    newsgirl.1958@gmail.
    com.  



    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015

    Categories

    All
    Age Thing
    Aging
    Author Journey
    Christmas
    Clydesdale In The Attic
    Cooking
    Cooties
    Crafts
    Creepy!
    Decor
    Faith
    Family
    Farm
    Fashion
    Friendships
    Gardening
    God Bless America
    Gratitude
    Guest Posts
    Hair!
    Halloween
    Holidays
    Home
    Indiana
    Indiana Bicentennial
    Keeping The Peace
    Life Connections
    Mail Call
    Newspapers
    Next Chapter
    Pen Women
    Photography
    Poison Ivy!
    Quilting Club
    Reggie
    Retirement
    Sadness
    Seasons
    Seller's Cabinet
    Shopping
    Sleep
    Snow Day
    Tourism
    Travel
    Union County
    Weird Food
    What We Keep
    Writer Chicks Society
    Writing

Proudly powered by Weebly
Photos used under Creative Commons from Lise1011, Simone Ramella, StarsApart, Biblioteca General Antonio Machado, kennethkonica, roseannadana: Thank you for 3 million views, GotCredit, chuck4x5, besnette, nielskliim, James E. Petts, jeffdjevdet, rumolay, kkmarais, tgrauros, susivinh, Larry1732
  • BLOG
  • ABOUT DONNA
  • CONTACT