Keeping things

I am an organizer.  I have been for many years, and even remember spending time re-shelving my books when I was young, cleaning out drawers and such.  Now, I tend to do purging every so often...many times it helps when I am feeling down.  It keeps a focus and makes me feel I am putting things away even when I can't put my emotions somewhere.

Last December, I was in my office looking at various "things" I had on the shelves along with the psych books for my class, the pics of Keith and I, the princess items given to me, etc.  I have initials from Mexico that are C A J even though my initials are C A H now.  I had a centerpiece from my mom's class reunion given to me because Keith and I helped out.  I got rid of a few items that had been given to me by former students (and the centerpiece which was dusty and needed to move on).  I also picked up a "rock formation" that was painted to look like 2 people.  It said "World's Best Counsellor" on it, and it was from my Dad.  The counsellor had ND on her shirt, and she has curly hair and glasses.  He bought it in one of the gift shops a few years back when he was in Cape May with family.  He was NOT a shopper and I know after my parents divorce, his gifts were almost always money to each of us, but he did ask me to help shop a few times for the nieces and nephews. 

I have 2 things he gave me unexpectedly. . .one is the rock counsellor and one is a decorative plaque with the Cape May lighthouse on them.  He brought both back from the beach for me, and I am thankful that in my "organizing and cleaning" that I didn't pitch either into a donate or trash pile.  He also gave fudge, jujubees and many times other foods we loved from Cape May.  But these 2 were ones he picked himself and gave to me.  A precious memory.

I also have one other item he bought me recently.  Keith and I took him to ND in 2010 for a game.  It was beautiful on Friday and we hit the bookstore.  Saturday it was raining off and on, very hard for a while.  We went and had breakfast, and spent about 2 hours in the ACC looking in the monogram rooms at all that was there.  I have some awesome pics I need to get off the camera card one of these days.  Before we did this, we stopped at the store before campus in the Eddy commons where Diamond found a light jacket he really liked.  He decided to have it shipped home, and as I was trying one on, he took it, added it to his and said, "put hers on the same bill and ship also"  I love my jacket when I need a pick me up cause its fun with writing on the back. . .cause Diamond was all about that.  We are going to give his to my Uncle and faithful sidekick at the ND games. 

Fathers are never the shoppers and while I have many precious gifts I can look at and remember my Mom, there are few that I can do with my Dad.  But, there are a few, and that makes it better.