it was twenty-nine years ago today…

Measuring life by notable dates. Do you remember where you were your last birthday? Do you remember where you were on your birthday of twenty-nine years ago? Do you remember where you were on this day twenty-nine years ago?

I do.

I was standing in a small university chapel on Chicago’s south side, thinking forever thoughts, looking around a space decorated with flowers. 'Regional, seasonal' were words of the future. Twenty-nine years ago I held lilies of the valley because they reminded me of spring in Poland and if memories count, then they would be counted as the 'something old.'

Do you remember what it is like to be barely twenty-four? To have faith in friendship and love, to look ahead to holding a newborn or two?

And then, to have before you a day when you have to sort through mountains of old scraps and papers and something falls on your lap and it’s better than memories of old women selling lilies of the valley on street corners in Warsaw?

I did.

Have you ever sat in a photo booth with someone you loved to death who laughed with you at the funny faces, the funny young faces in the smudged mirror just ahead? Would you classify a photo taken then as one to keep forever?



I did.

To you, ILYAFA, from me.