From The Storyteller
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Sept. 30, 2019, Attic
“Have you checked the attic? I think what you’re looking for is there.” As a kid, searching for something in the attic was like a treasure hunt. It was a places of magic where important things from years earlier were kept. You never knew what your original search might uncover. I’ve found a marriage license, old pictures, love letters, baby shoes, wedding dresses, and interesting old clothes, all the while hunting for a required birth certificate. Back then storage units were rare, and now they’re everywhere. Unfortunately, at least for me, my 10x10 storage unit simply lacks the magic of an attic. They’re nice for storing sailboat stuff, baby clothes, boxes of old school books and used furniture, but things considered “attic worthy” are different. They need special handling; they need an attic. It’s has been awhile since we’ve lived where we’ve had an overhead attic, so shoes boxes placed on top shelves in our closets have become the places where we store our “attic worthy” stuff. Recently the need for a birth certificate triggered a new search. The hunt began, magic happened, and a five minute search became a two hour vacation. Note: It’s impossible to speed read through grade school class pictures, crayon-created birthday cards, old report cards, collected rocks, and a picture of me in shoulder length hair. All pretense of work stopped as memories and smiles took over. Which brought me to the realization that my attic is a mystical place filled with “attic worthy” stuff, stories, and love. I discovered that within those attic, shoe boxes there was enough love to float a battleship. A magical place where love can be re-experienced time and again without much effort. Re-experiencing love I’ve stored in shoe boxes was new to me. I recommend it to you. Moral: Attics hold important stuff. |