.Hannah,

     My memory garden is not fancy and it isn't hard to do at all. It all started when an old artist friend of mine passed away a few years ago. When they cleaned out his house there was an old clay vase that was uglier than sin that was going to be thrown out. Well we never did figure out what Griff saw in the darn thing but I haul it home and it wieghts some 30 or so pounds and I set it out on the corner against that ugly old phone post. Then I gathered up old rocks and some things and planted some flowers and things. I did it because he always was a bit of a rebel and so am I and it just seemed right at the time and still does. So I have expanded it this year and in time it will take the whole corner.

    But what matters most about the little garden is that it makes me feel good and makes me happy and it reminds me of those who went before. There is Griff the artist, Tony the farmer with big hands who always waved, Clarence who was another farmer who always had a kind word and so goes the list. It is a place that I can visit and remember those who only walked with me a short time and remember the value in the lessons of love they taught me. So each time I lose someone like this, I place them in my memory garden and I can visit whenever I need a special kind of lift to go on. We learn much from our close friends and reletives, but sometimes the best lessons we learn are from those we least expect to ever think would make an impact on our lives.