Mementoes can evoke great memories. Dig in, dust them off and delight yourself anew. This is what we are doing this week as, with permission, we make withdrawals from the cloistered memories of some men and women.
Ingrid, 24 - MY LOVE LETTERS
"I have a stack of old letters - some dirty and wrinkled - that I received 10 years ago from my first son's father when I was 14. It was not until he died last year that I realised how much I prized them. They are very old and wrinkled, but I'm keeping them for when my son is older. He will have them to remind him of his father.
"My father left home when I was eight, so I do not remember much about him, but he gave me a miniature-doll, cooking set, which included a stove, Dutch pot and frying pan. While my mother was cooking the main meal, she would give me little pieces of everything and my meals would turn out real well.
"I have kept it because I always thought that I would like to have a daughter to pass it on to. The other day I went home ( in the country) and realised that one of the pots was missing and it just tore me up. I have asked my mother to put them up carefully so nothing will happen to the rest of them."
Norman, 40 - MARRIED IN STRIPES"I have the striped jacket that I got married in 17 years ago, that has not been worn or washed since. It is too tight now, but I keep important documents in the pockets. When I want to find them I know where to go.
"It (the wedding day) was an easy day for me. I was a bit nervous, but not too much. I was drinking, but at 12 o'clock I ate some mints and went to the barber to remove my three-inch Afro.
"My wife was late and so was the photographer. The pastor (a prison chaplain) roughed him up badly before the crowd at the Jones Town Baptist Church. There were people lining the fence to look.
"I said to myself that if it were me (in the photographer's shoes), I might have left. He was my friend, and he was talking those photographs free of charge. But he stayed.
"Later I forgot what I planned to say to my wife, something I had practised during rehearsal. But, it was a good day. A number of people came together to make it the perfect day for us."
Clive, 36 - A PURPLE PASSION
"MY purple and white Boys Champs jersey marked 'Fortis forever!' from 1980. I will preserve it by framing it if I have to, but it will not be loaned, worn, auctioned or touched by the curiosity crew.
"It is really a masterpiece, a work of art. It has special significance for many reasons, with the foremost being the emphatic victory Kingston College produced in the National Stadium at the grand finale that Saturday night. It felt so great.
"Things were in sync, all our athletes, management team, Mr. Wally Johnson, Miss Helen Douglas and all our supporters were on 'Cloud Nine'. I could swear I saw my jersey glowing in the dark!
"The Mortimer Geddes trophy was for real and it was taken back to North Street, its favourite home. My KC Jersey pulsates with history.
"I also have the red RSV hardcover Bible I got with my other textbooks when I entered First Form at Kingston College in 1976. My name on the inside was a scrawl, but I proceeded to read it from cover to cover during the years.
"Its content has proven to be a revelation. It is well marked with notations at the top, sides and bottom in particular pages. I have that same Bible in my desk drawer at the Tax Office, knowing full well that the good Lord is calling tax collectors and "the fields are ripe for harvesting."
