Seems like yesterday that Dirty Deeds Junk Removal was on the premises of my parent’s house. As they loaded what remained of my childhood (which was a s**t load), I scanned the last remnants, hands shaking and heart pounding.
The laundry room was near the garage. It was the last room to get “swept out.” An air of nothingness filled this room. Old purses, a 50-year-old hamper, iron, brooms, lightbulbs, batteries, miscellaneous Christmas decorations that begged the question: how in the world did they end up in this room. Pretty much junk.
Ahh, but, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure?
On the inside wall of the laundry room near the light switch, hung car keys. Two of the key rings belonged to my dad who passed away in 2017. Five years later the keys hung right where he left them. One was a “London” keychain that I brought back after a UK visit in 1980.
The other key ring had his beloved Army dog tag hanging from it.
In the early 1950s, dad was so proud to serve in the United States Army, stationed in Germany. His army dog tag stayed with him for nearly 70 years.
Of the many things in my parent’s home, there are two that have more value than all else:
The dog tag (bet you guessed that would be on the list?), and
A handwritten apology to me from my mother (found in much the same way as the dog tag. Late in the game, by chance.)
Though dad’s dog tag had been around a long time, I had never examined it or understood what the numbers on it meant.
I was stunned to read: 2103302. Why? What’s the big deal?
Our address for the past 32 years has been 2103. And, 33 is Jeff’s favorite number and 22 was mom’s.
I know that’s just a bunch of trivia…but still…2103302??
The “O” in front of the numbers was dad's rank, Officer.
T-51 indicates he had a tetanus shot in 1951.
“A” is his blood type and “P” indicates that dad was a Protestant.
I took this cherished dog tag to a jeweler and had a gold band put around the perimeter and a gold ring attached for a chain. The chain is custom made too. I dismantled a necklace that I didn’t like much and made it specifically for dad’s dog tag.
Think dad is smiling down?
My second favorite “inherited” item from my parents is a hand-written apology to me from my mother. Obviously, I won’t give the details. But here’s a snippet. (My cousin read it recently and left her mark of fingerprints in the upper left region :)
Last winter, while sitting by a cozy, warm fireplace, I went through piles of cards, letters, papers…stuff…and came across this hand-written apology. I heard my mother’s voice clearly, succinctly, vividly. A God thing.
Think mom is smiling down?
Like dad’s dog tag, that came so very close to being cast in a landfill, mom’s cherished note came very close to going up in flames through our chimney at 2103.
As many of you are, I’m blessed in pretty awesome ways. Though thankful for all, I’m especially thankful for the above two, favorite treasures.
Moral of the story: If you feel and rushed and crushed, just do your best and trust God to handle serendipity.
Thank you for reading!
Love, Shelley
Luke 8:17 - For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.
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