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Memories From a Junk Drawer

3/7/2015

14 Comments

 
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Last night I was browsing through Kate Messner’s new book, 59 Reasons to Write, and came across a warm-up exercise offered by author Jo Knowles. She suggested looking through a junk drawer and finding an object that evokes a memory or that speaks to you in some way. Well, I thought, I have lots of junk drawers, probably one in just about every room. I went for the junkiest – the one in the kitchen.

Way in the back I found it – a cross-stitched apple stretched over a covered button frame edged with a piece of jute. The magnet that should have been glued to the back is long gone, but the memories surrounding this object are still there.

Back in the 80’s, when my kids were in elementary school, the PTO would have a Secret Santa sale of craft items that the kids could buy as gifts for their families or friends. They asked parents to donate 50 hand crafted or store-bought items of something that could be used for the sale. I had just taken up cross-stitching so I decided to make kitchen magnets. During the summer I would take my kids to the East Whiteland pool. There we would meet up with friends from all over the community. We moms would sit and chat, and there I would be with my squares of cross-stitch fabric creating images of apples, rainbows, and other small objects. In the fall, after all the squares were completed, I assembled the magnets in time for the sale. (The following year I made 50 ribbon barrettes, but that’s another story).

That little magnet reminded me of a time in my life when I dabbled in crafts and did lots of sewing, but it is the memories of sitting by the pool with my friends during those relaxing summers that it most vividly brought to mind. We would talk through problems, share ideas on child rearing, decide who were the best teachers in the school, and forge friendships, many of which last to this day.

Who would have thought a junk drawer could be such a rich source of writing ideas?


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14 Comments
Janice Ewing link
3/6/2015 09:42:25 pm

I can connect to this. I know exactly what you mean about a seemingly random, forgotten object bringing back another time and place in your life.This was fun to read, and I love the picture!
Janice

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Amy Boyden link
3/6/2015 09:46:33 pm

I love the idea of the memory arising from the junk drawer adn what a sweet summer memory. . .-Amy http://parentingandpedagogy.blogspot.com/2015/03/tracking.html

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Onathought link
3/6/2015 09:58:04 pm

I love this! What a great writing exercise, and what a lovely memory. Thank you for sharing!

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Melissa link
3/6/2015 10:04:11 pm

I love the thought of going through the junk drawer to spark a memory! Everybody has at least one!! And, I agree the kitchen drawer is the "junkiest"!

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LibraryDragon link
3/6/2015 10:05:32 pm

I liked how you wove the past and present, how you shared your insight both as a memory and as a process. Thank you.

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Judy Jester link
3/7/2015 02:45:06 am

What a lovely memory. I just got Kate's book. Can't wait to dig into it.

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Maria Selke
3/7/2015 03:32:29 am

I love it! I really need to get a copy of that book. My junk drawer seems to be filled with junkier junk than yours is, though :)

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Rose
3/7/2015 06:58:59 am

All the Bette from writing!

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Stacey link
3/7/2015 04:09:28 am

There's more than I'd like to admit in my junk drawers (heck... in most of my drawers) and much of it could be the fodder for some excellent writing.

59 Reasons to Write is sitting on my desk waiting to be read. Hoping to read it once the challenge is over in April.

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Rose
3/7/2015 06:59:33 am

I think you will like it.

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Adrienne link
3/7/2015 06:15:53 am

I think I need this book! This is a beautiful memory, all stitched together in a tidy little package, just like the apple!

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Aileen Hower link
3/7/2015 06:53:55 am

To look in a junk drawer is an excellent suggestion. Your photo was a perfect vehicle to bring me back to my own childhood - to my own mom's cross stitching. It is very pretty. I wonder how many were saved in someone else's junk drawer.

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Julie Johnson link
3/7/2015 10:08:27 am

What a lovely memory. It's amazing how such simple objects bring back wonderful stories. I was just thinking that I need to pull out Kate's book and now you've inspired me to do it this weekend. I love this idea.

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Catherine link
3/7/2015 11:53:21 am

I love this kind of slice! Every object has a story behind it, just like your sweet magnet! I once heard Lester Laminack compare writers notebooks to junk drawers. We never know what we'll find in either!

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