Memories are forever

Couponman and I took our seats.  “I’m sitting between the two grandparents I love,” whispered the Worm into my ear.

For as long as I remember, children participate in an annual church service.  Yesterday was that meeting.

All the children, ages three through twelve, were called up to the pulpit.  The Bug gave me a thumbs up from his vantage point.  The Worm smiled and waved to me from her lofty position.  It seemed like just yesterday when not old enough to be in the performance, she coerced a young family friend with those sad kitten eyes to hold her in his arms while the youth group sang.  Delayed in her speech, the Worm had shouted out “Gramma,” and waved.  While the GAP may have been slightly embarrassed (probably more envious), my eyes had filled with happy tears.

Yesterday one young girl spoke too fast, reminding me of my first talk in front of a congregation.  Another young boy hesitant to speak reminded me of a shy Hot Wheelz.  The Bug, now eight, stepped to the microphone and read his part, looking up with confidence.  He reminded me of his mom so many years ago.  And on her turn, the Worm looked out over the congregation with a new found maturity.  Last year, at five years old, she’d taken her hands at the back of her neck, moving them up her head flopping her long, thick curls over her face during the time the children were singing.  “Don’t look down at your paper,” her mom, the GAP, instructed yesterday, “so everyone will know you memorized your part.”  And she didn’t.

Another young boy spoke too close to the microphone and his voice boomed.  That’s how Cheezy had sounded the first year he had participated.  The congregation had chuckled then, as they did for this little boy.  Another little girl spoke through tight lips as Coco did to hide her new uneven and crooked adult teeth.

Old memories kept alive by new memories – a combination of what makes us who we are.

Related posts:

1. Long ago in the land of milk and cookies
2. Halloween on a budget
3. I’m old enough to be thankful
4. Tacky & sappy but merry wishes to you all
5. Everything you ever wanted to be