Forgotten photographs

I’ve just finished my biggest home clear-out in 15 years, and found these absolute gems of me and my mom ❤️

I’d entirely forgotten they existed. What a beautifully unexpected gift! (Those who have lost someone will know what hidden gold this feels like…)

Snapshots of memories like little glimmers of light from the past, hidden just out of sight.

We’re renovating in a few months, which is wildly exciting (eek) and set me on a major clearing out mission. I can now say I’ve sorted through every piece of clothing, book, toy, random memorabilia, kitchen item and photo in the house. I made like Ann Patchett in her beautiful short story, and pretended we were moving house… then made like Marie Kondo and only kept what I absolutely loved.

My reward, as I sifted through photos this evening, was a cascade of happy memories, some legit laugh out loud funny… And these sweet moments with my mom. Gone, but never forgotten.

My other reward is the pure joy of donating bags and bags of unwanted things to people who can use them! What a total slice of joy.