At a recent Salon at Pinney Library we had fewer readers than time slots available, so I offered a writing exercise. I asked people to think about something meaningful they have with them in the room, then challenged them to write facts (1 minute), memories (3 minutes), and meaning (1 minute) about that object. This is always interesting, because think about it: what do you have on YOU right now that has meaning for you? We passed the rest of the Salon eagerly listening to each others’ stories.

Small Things

By Ellie Jacobi

I am wearing my late husband Paul’s watch. I used to wear these delicate, feminine, fancy watches, but they had dials so small my aging eyes could no longer read them. So here I am with Paul’s watch on my wrist, discovering that large watches are now quite fashionable for women!

The watch was with us on all our extensive travels. It told us not only the time, but the date and month. I remember having it go in for repairs and feeling as though time was out of control instead of the watch being unavailable.

It has shown me how small items can bring people to life in memory.