PAPERS

I am a collector. I collect all the papers of relatives who are now deceased. I didn’t start out doing that but, I somehow became the designated keeper of their records. It is a privilege and also a burden. What to dispose of? If I shred a document or a letter does that mean the people did not exist? What will future generations know of their experiences?

I am a collector. I will continue to retain their memories. It is evidence of lives well lived. I accumulate the memories of their times. There are lessons for all if the documents I possess are combed through. Just reading their letters and documents, I can stitch together their stories. Mistakes they made. Advances in modern medicine that now are available to all. Miracles. Information for our family that is crucial to our learning who we are and where we come from. I will remain the collector.