Imagine opening a carton of memories, of childhood pastimes and obsessions. I recently did, quite literally.
Locked away in an old brown cardboard box, covered with brown tape, was the colorful world of my wonder years. It was with unhidden excitement that I tore off the tape and opened the carton, with a shine in my eyes that would match that of a thief who has found his gold!
And I was not disappointed.
I found the safely-kept Asterixs and Tintins, those treasures that have been passed down the generations in my family. They had kept me fascinated for many a summer afternoon. I used to promise myself I would get up and do my homework once I finished reading one of them. The stories and the characters have stayed with me and my brothers…we even remember the lines!
I found the amazing Where’s Waldo books, which had kept us engrossed for days on end. The red-striped tee guy with the big glasses, funny hat, walking stick and the stack of books (all of which he kept losing!) brought back that crazy urge to just sprawl on the bed and find him on every single page, along with everything in the checklist at the back! Once again, I wandered through the lands of the Unfriendly Giants,the Deep Sea Divers, the Magical Flags, the Flying Carpets and Outer Space.
I found my favorite collection of Disney classics, a golden hardback that held more magic than a wand. I had read every story over and over again. I had tried my hand at copying every beautiful illustration that made the pages come alive. It cast a spell on me again that day.
I found my Baby Book that told me I have loved noodles since I was 3 and watched my first movie when I was 6-months old. I found all my sketches intact. I found thick encyclopedias that kids have no use for anymore,but had been prized possessions that got us through school projects and firmly embedded amazing facts into our memories for life.
I found more than just books that day.
Locked away in an old brown cardboard box, covered with brown tape, was the colorful world of my wonder years. It was with unhidden excitement that I tore off the tape and opened the carton, with a shine in my eyes that would match that of a thief who has found his gold!
And I was not disappointed.
I found the safely-kept Asterixs and Tintins, those treasures that have been passed down the generations in my family. They had kept me fascinated for many a summer afternoon. I used to promise myself I would get up and do my homework once I finished reading one of them. The stories and the characters have stayed with me and my brothers…we even remember the lines!
I found the amazing Where’s Waldo books, which had kept us engrossed for days on end. The red-striped tee guy with the big glasses, funny hat, walking stick and the stack of books (all of which he kept losing!) brought back that crazy urge to just sprawl on the bed and find him on every single page, along with everything in the checklist at the back! Once again, I wandered through the lands of the Unfriendly Giants,the Deep Sea Divers, the Magical Flags, the Flying Carpets and Outer Space.
I found my favorite collection of Disney classics, a golden hardback that held more magic than a wand. I had read every story over and over again. I had tried my hand at copying every beautiful illustration that made the pages come alive. It cast a spell on me again that day.
I found my Baby Book that told me I have loved noodles since I was 3 and watched my first movie when I was 6-months old. I found all my sketches intact. I found thick encyclopedias that kids have no use for anymore,but had been prized possessions that got us through school projects and firmly embedded amazing facts into our memories for life.
I found more than just books that day.
Heartfelt and warm with childhood memoirs revisited. And to top off, a killer last line! Well-written!
ReplyDeleteThank you Shailesh :)
ReplyDeleteMom says her effort also went in the preservation! The memories are yours of course and hers too.
ReplyDelete