Elephants With Their Trunks Up For Good Luck

 

WRITING PROMPT: Write about something that was hidden in plain sight. Did other people notice it? Was it significant to someone else? 

Through a series of unfortunate events, my mom lost most of her stuff. I won’t go into why, mainly because it’s no one’s business, and partially because I always feel bad that I didn’t do more. I always tried to tell her that it was just “stuff” and it wasn’t important. I was trying to make her feel better, but I’m pissed off at myself for ever saying that. It was HER stuff and she was hurt.  In particular, she wanted these brass elephant book ends and blue floral lamp. 

Oddly, I couldn’t for the life of me remember these items. I think it annoyed her when I said that. She would often reply “yes you do!”   Apparently these lamps and bookends were significant. They had made it through several redecorations and she loved them.  She had a sad look whenever she spoke of them.  

Today while looking through old photos, I was so focused on my daughter, I almost missed them in the background. Something kept bringing me back to these particular pictures, and now I know why. There are the lamps and bookends, plain as day!  We didn’t look through photos in the end. It was too much. She often would talk as if her life was flashing before her, and I think B roll footage of it all would have been more than either of us could have handled.   

Now that she’s gone, I am grateful for every photo- even the old Polaroids where I have to squint to see things. They are tangible proof that she was here in case my memory ever fades. Oh and speaking of my memory, turns out she was right.  I DO remember those bookends and lamps!