Red Chest of Memories

 Antiques

The passage of time is surely divine and is filled with rhythm and reason whatever the season. - Anonymous

I look at this chest of drawers and wish I could go back in time and watch the girls grow up all over again.

They were only toddlers when they were gifted a used dresser by a friendly grandmother who lived in the Windy City apartment across from us.

It is short and sturdy and, at that time, aged brown since it had been in our neighbor's storage for I didn't know how long. I couldn't even identify its wood nor its age by its legs. 

Did I know to inspect if its dovetail joints had thin adhesives or sealants in between? Perhaps as an indication of vintage.

Nope. I didn't know enough to care.

Drawer Chest, Chicago, Illinois: Circa 1964

All I knew was that it was a much-needed furniture in what we had fondly called Little Room, which was the girls', as opposed to Big Room, the parents' room.

Painted a cheerful red, it soon got crammed with tiny little clothes.

I remember.

Itty bitty pants and flowered jammies, socks and wee dresses, undershirts and bibs. In pinks and baby blue and yellow.

From Chicago, it has traveled with us to various homes.

Now residing in the Grandkids' Room in our current home, it holds scant beddings for the bunk bed, stuffed animal pillows, a dragon-hooded towel, a box of Lite-Brite Classic, puzzles, and painting supplies for when the grandkids visited or slept over.

It sometimes fills me with an overwhelming rush of sadness when I gaze at it, for in the blink of an eye, even the grandkids have grown up so fast. Time is passing swiftly, rushing forward, everything seemingly gone as quickly as a dream.

Yet the thought that nothing can ever actually be lost consoles me.

For the most treasured heirlooms are memories.

And with those, even when I can't go back, I can always move forward.