I had a lovely evening last night, joining in with a friend's women's group from church. As part of the invite, we were instructed to bring three objects of significance, about which we could tell a story.
One hour before the event, I still hadn't even thought about what I could bring (except, briefly, "pictures? Hmmm..."), but I was pleasantly surprised when a quick rummage through my desk drawers and closet revealed at least three items that were both personally memorable and had great stories attached to them.
- Item one: the harmonica
During the spring break of my senior year, my friend Katie, me and four other friends traveled to the west coast (Washington's Olympic peninusla, specifically) to spend a week at Katie's house with her family. One of our adventures while there included a trip to visit Andy Mackie. Andy has spent many of his recent years serving as an
advocate for music education. He goes into local schools, he raises money for scholarships, he has created "guitar-in-a-box" kits that can be assembled to create a simple one or three stringed guitar. He also plays harmonica, and standing in his workshop, he handed each of us one of these blue harmonicas in C and promptly taught us how to play "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star."
So this harmonica reminds me not only of that trip, which was a wonderful time spent with good friends, but also all the music-making I shared with those friends and at college in general. Harmonica is very accessible, and in some ways symbolizes how my time at St. Olaf made all kinds of music my own.
I also played a fantastic duet of the Hallelujah Chorus with my friend Sarah on this harmonica, but that's another story.
- Item two: the apron
We celebrated six birthdays in about three months in my community house in DC. Each celebration was unique and fun; this apron comes from the celebration of housemate Callie's birthday. We had all baked cakes, in an impromptu "cake-off" and then Callie presented us all with blank aprons, tie dye and puff paints to each make our own apron. Not only do I really like the way mine turned it, it reminds me of the many good times I had living in the Bon House, and the ongoing value of sharing good food with those you love.
- Item three: the mittens
My most recent item, these are simply a
birthday gift from my good friend Chris (technically also a Christina). Moving to Vancouver, going to Regent was a huge transition and a large part of the shock came right around my birthday. I had seen these mittens at the Bay and really wanted a pair, mostly because they were really fun and Canadian. They were the perfect gift at the perfect time--a luxury that I wanted, but couldn't afford; witness to a friend's caring about me; and a reminder that living in Canada was not all grey rainy weather, but also something bright, fun and cheerful.
