Objects We Keep: My Treasure Box from Jean Copyright 2020 by Karen Nicole Johnson

ObjectsWeKeep:MyTreasureBoxfromJean

WhenIwasveryyoungmymom’sbestfriendJeanmademeasmalltreasurebox.

Tobeclear,Ithinkthebox

hadbeenacigarboxthat

shecleverlypaintedand

decoupagedwithapicture

ofkittens.Theinsideof

theboxwaslinedwithhot

pinkfelt,inotherwords,it

wasperfect.Tome,Ihada

boxtostoretreasuresand

jewelry,thetypeoftreasuressomeonelessthan10yearsoldmightown.

Thatsmalltreasureboxisnownearlyahalfacenturyoldandhassurvivedmovingtotwo

differentstatesandthroughninehouse

moves.Youwouldhavethoughtthatbox

wouldhavebeenlostlongagobutthebox

wasagiftfromJeanwhoIadoredmore

thanIcouldeverexplain.Jeanmadeitfor

me.Iwillalwayshavethistreasurebox.

Objects We Keep: My Treasure Box from Jean Copyright 2020 by Karen Nicole Johnson

Theboxstillholdstreasures,notonesingleitemofmonetaryvaluebutnotonesingleI

itemI’minterestedinpartingwith.There

isacollectionofholidaypinsfromwhen

pinswerefashionablewhichIkeepin

caseIeverwanttowearoneagain.There

arepinsmydaughterworewhenshewas

young.

Thereisathickpewtermonogrammed

braceletthatwasagiftfrommysisterto

mewhenIservedashermaidofhonor.

Thereisasilverbraceletwithmyname

engraved,yetanothergiftfrommysisterwhenImademyconfirmationineighthgrade.

Thereisadingygreysmallpadlockthathadbeenonthecollarofthefirstdogmyfamily

had;thepadlockstillbringsasmileeverytimeIseeit.Thereisatinytiger’seyeheartthat

usedtobeonachain(thechainislonglost)butthenecklacehadbeenagiftfrommy

brother.Thesearesomeofmytreasuresfromchildhood,allstoredperfectlyinalittlegirl’s

treasureboxmadebyoneofthemostwonderfulpersonsI’veeverknown.

Objects We Keep: My Treasure Box from Jean Copyright 2020 by Karen Nicole Johnson

Lookingovermytreasureditems,Ifeel

connectionsandmemoriesthatarehardto

articulatethoughItry.Iknowthememories,

liketheitemsthemselves,areuniquelymine

thoughIsuspectmanypeoplehaveolditemsof

littlemonetaryvalueandyetobjectsthatare

steepedwithmemoriesanditisthememories

thatholdthevalue.