Summer Treasures

     ...The little kid in me still picks up stuff I find on the ground wherever I go.  This summer I have discovered pennies and nickels, lots of interesting rocks and stones, bits of wood, feathers, and scraps of fabric.  Occasionally I find bits of pieces of jewelry and worn pieces of glass.  Sometimes rusted nuts and bolts find their way into my collection of discarded memorabilia.  Placing all these things together creates an interesting tapestry of how I spent my summer.  As a child I put my special treasures together in a memory box to help me to relive my summer exploits.  In the middle of the snowy winters I would pull out my summer treasure box and spend time with my memories of when I found each item.  Autumn is another season that provides copious treasures that find their way into my pockets.  Bounties of acorn caps testify that squirrels have been busy storing food for the coming cold months.  Even winter has its rewards.  Feathers and dried leaves give bits of interest to the pale, snowy landscapes of winter.  Sticks and stones stand out in stark reality amidst the snow and ice.  They let you know that some things endure no matter what the conditions in life.  Abandoned bird nests testify to the fact it is time to move on to warmer places.  Such craftsmanship of necessity show the woven beauty of everyday life. 
      During the summer I make a point to attend as many of the local art shows as possible.  Lately I have found myself picking up a stone from each location.  I don't know what prompted me to start the practice except for the fact that my inner child wanted to take something home from the show even if I did not have any money to spend.  Once a little neighbor girl handed me a stone from her driveway.  "Here,  this is for you," she said beaming her little face up to me.  "Oh, how wonderful!  What a special stone!  Why, thank you so much," I told her.  My gratitude was genuine as I understood immediately what a precious gem she had given me. The stone went into my treasure box.  She is growing up and I doubt that little girl gives stones to anyone anymore.  But that stone will always remind me of that moment in time when a little girl untarnished by the world recognized the value of a treasured pebble and was willing to share it with another individual.  In a way, it was an invitation to me to remember what it was like to be a child again.  She was telling me to never forget that precious gift of childhood.
      ...It has occurred to me to leave a note attached to my last will and testament instructing someone to check my pockets one last time to see what treasures I found before I left for the next great treasure hunt...