meaningful places.

although i strive to be (mostly) unattached to places or things, and instead focus on relationships and moments, i don't always succeed. see, i am a very sentimental person, and i can't help but associate such meaning and love with certain objects. for instance, there's a photo of my mother-in-law that i cherish so dearly, there's the love letter the mr. wrote to me on a macaroon box when we were dating long distance, there's the sweet (and beautiful) notes from my sisters. the list could go on and on.

i've moved around a decent amount, and although i have wonderful memories of my childhood, i don't feel particularly sad that my parents don't live in my childhood home. it's okay because the memories didn't dissipate when we moved. in fact, the separation probably only heightened the adoration for my childhood days.

there is a house along the bay that harbors memories and love (and salt and wind). although i may not get there as often as i'd like and although it's changed with seasons and age, the memories that i have made there, the people that i have shared the front porch with, these are the moments i hold dear. when i am missing someone, especially my grandfather, i think of all the times we shared on that front porch, eating pistachios and watching the sunset. these are the memories that i will always have. and at the end of the day, no object or photo can replace these memories.

and i think in the end, that's why i love these artifacts of my past life, because they bring me back to the places that i've been. they make the people who aren't here feel closer. and i am so grateful to have these countless sweet reminders scattered throughout my everyday life.