The Love Note

Last week, Barry and I began to (I don’t really know what word to use here)… clean, sort, organize, dispose, save, store… (all of the above) the things that belonged to my late mother-in-law, Flo.

Flo died a bit over 2 years ago and we are just beginning to take the boxes and boxes and boxes from their storage places in our shed, where they have sat and watched as we’ve taken out, or put back, our bikes or gardening tools… and all the other things that end up in our shed. These remaining boxes are filled with things that we know meant so much to Flo; things that we didn’t have the hearts to clean and sort and dispose of, and all that, just after she died. These boxes now sit on our dining room table and Barry and I have been going through them. One at a time.

There are photos… hundreds of them. There are photo albums, special ones for special people. These are easy to give away because they are filled with photos of specific people and specific families. Flo LOVED filling photo albums with new photos and incredibly preserved b & w photos from forever ago. She was also the Polaroid Queen for many, many years! In these boxes are scrap books, overflowing with recital programs and graduation programs and swim meet programs… some going back to when Barry was in elementary school. I’ve even found some more costume jewelry… mostly centered around special days and holidays. I now have things to wear on St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, 4th of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. These are sparkly, dazzling, rhinestone beauties.

There are poker chips,  rewards cards from local restaurants, playing cards and religious medals.

And then there is this:

As Barry peeled open the little plastic photo holder from Flo’s wallet… and pulled out, one by one, the photos of her beloved children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren… he found the note. The Love Note. Tattered, torn, discolored… its corners carefully rounded to fit into its slot in her wallet. How many wallets had Flo used and carefully transferred this Love Note into?  Most possibly the only Love Note Flo had ever received from Joe. Joe was not a demonstrative man. He didn’t hug much, he didn’t kiss, he didn’t whisper sweet nothings. Joe came to life when sitting behind his drums… his eyes, his arms, his hands, his feet, his heart. No, Joe was not a love-note type of guy.

Maybe this is why The Love Note, the simple words on a simple little card, danced with such life and such loveliness. Maybe the pure loveliness of the words, the handwritten words, deserved the preservation of the note through all time.  This little note obviously meant the world to Flo.  These words would mean the world, I think, to anyone who received them.

Maybe today is the day to leave a special little handwritten Love Note to a lovely person in your life.  It may just be a lovely gesture that lasts an eternity.

Thanks, Joe. From heaven above, my father-in-law is still making music… but this time with his pen.

About Audrey

Audrey McClelland has been a digital influencer since 2005. She’s a mom of 5 and shares tips on her three favorite things: parenting, fashion and beauty. She’s also a Contemporary Romance Author.

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4 Comments

  1. 9.24.10
    Barry said:

    Great post… just wanted to let you know that I’ve been leaving you “love notes” for years but I think that the same thing is happening to them that used to happen to my homework…

  2. 9.25.10
    Nancy said:

    Oh Barry, that damn dog! This post made me teary. I remember finding a few simple, but precious things like this in my dad’s wallet. It really is the simple things in life that mean the most.

  3. 9.25.10
    Kim said:

    It is said that “actions speak louder than words.” However, look at how precious those words penned on a piece of paper were to one woman. Think about how many times she was able to pull those words out and read them – how often they may have brightened her day and touched her heart. Those words spoke loudly indeed and Sharon, you are correct: it is a gesture that can last an eternity.

  4. 10.6.10
    Erin said:

    How beautiful. I wonder how many times she pulled that note out and sighed at the simple, but deep gesture of those few words? My grandpa carries around a note my grandma wrote him, too, and I know it means the world to him.

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