January 26: Remembrance or Tribute Layout

Discussion in 'MOC 10 Challenges' started by bcgal00, Jan 21, 2022.

  1. Aerobigirl

    Aerobigirl Well-Known Member

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    480 Words

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    A house is no longer a home when its owners have gone, leaving a shell of boards, nails, glass, and wires. I miss Clint’s grandparents, Virgel and Lena Olsen, very much - much more than I will miss the bones of the house. But so many of my memories of them are tied to the house where we first met, the house they owned for 50 years, and the house Clint and I visited today to help Jim and Donna clear out old computer supplies. Going through the mostly-empty house left a pit in my gut, not unlike the pit I felt clearing out my own parents’ home. Reality. Sadness. Melancholy. Knowing things have already changed and will keep changing, yet wanting to hold onto a few moments. Here are some of the memories that are the most vivid for me.

    The first time I met Clint’s grandparents, it was the summer of 1991, and I was starting up a bungee jumping business out of a hot air balloon. We sat down at the kitchen table and had snacks and drinks. The Olsens were the consummate hosts, always had soda and some sort of crackers, cheese, and a little bowl of nuts ready for whatever visitor might stop by. They listened to my plans, smiling. Rather than telling me I was going to get myself killed or that I shouldn’t do it, they asked me HOW I was going to overcome various hurdles. It was a friendly discussion, and if they thought I was crazy, they never let on. They encouraged me, which was refreshing. We had a lot of discussions around that little kitchen table, as well as sitting on the sofa along the wall of the tv room, as VL sat in their recliners.

    The Olsens were an extroverted, loud, musical family. There was a lot of coming and going, between friends, family, and neighbors. The giant livingroom and diningroom, with their 70’s gold decor, hosted many gatherings. We visited for quarterly family birthday gatherings and Christmas Eve. Carrie and I also had our combined baby shower for Lauren and Connor there.

    There was always music. Usually Lena had a favorite opera playing in the background. The grand piano was often in use, whether by a kid plunking out “chopsticks,” Ailisa playing and singing, and sometimes Dannenmiller duets.

    Virgel’s gardens were large and splendorous. Spring and summer were full of blooms. One of my favorite photoshoots of Makena has her in the back yard, trying to eat one of his roses, with a bright fuchsia petal dangling from her bottom lip.

    Lena, Virgel, you added so much love into the lives of everyone you knew, including me. I carry memories of you, and of your home, in my heart.

    Nancy (grand-daughter-in-law)
    January 30, 2022
     
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  2. knclark

    knclark Chocolate snob

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    Word count 448 and in my credits in the gallery
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  3. Lynnette

    Lynnette In my life, I've loved them all

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    353 words:

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  4. dbregant

    dbregant Well-Known Member

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    348 words in Journal
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  5. andersm

    andersm You can check out anytime you like ...

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    What a fantastic chance to write about my in-laws! Thanks for the challenge! Word count is 386

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  6. rrred68

    rrred68 Well-Known Member

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    As others mentioned, the journaling was cathartic. My page deals with my sons' decision to quit XC - a sport he's played since middle school. It may not have been a tribute to anyone, but to me my love for the sport died when he decided to quit and I'm still struggling with my emotions to this day. Thank you @bcgal00 for hosting this challenge. Hopefully this will help me deal with my feelings. 389 words


    credits in gallery.

    Journaling reads:
    Watching you run cross country brought me so much joy. I loved seeing the long legs you inherited from your dad eat up the course. As you ran the course you appeared to be floating because it seemed like your feet never touched the ground. When sprinting towards the finish line you were a blue/black blur surging forward to beat whoever was in front of you, to beat the clock and get a personal record. Beautiful moments were created with your team and those who supported you. Memories were borne from the friendships built during the season.

    If I had known that this was the last picture I would take of you during your high school cross country career I would have done things differently. I would have tried to capture shots of you running towards me, or at the starting line, or some with the team you’ve competed with for 6 years, or the coach who has been with you from the beginning. But I didn’t know that night that you were not going to run cross country again. Ever. I didn’t know that you and your coach would have a falling out over your job vs your dedication to the sport and team. I didn’t know that you would choose to leave a sport you’ve played in since middle school and that generated so many important memories not only for you, but for me as well. I didn’t know that you would easily abandon your teammates and coach. And me.

    How did you abandon me you ask? When you informed me of the situation and of your decision to quit the team, I asked you to reconsider as you would be letting them down, especially heading into the district meet. I also asked you to consider that this is your senior year and this is time you will never get back. You stuck to your decision (for that I’m proud of you), but it broke my heart. I was angry with you (technically I still am angry) and I was embarrassed to attend the meets to cheer on the team fearful that my friends would see me as the mother of a quitter. I ache on your behalf for the celebrations you missed and I struggle to look back at the season with any feeling of happiness.
     
    Last edited: Jan 31, 2022
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  7. crlin

    crlin Well-Known Member

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    338 words! I'm definitely not a writer! Thanks for the challenge! Journaling is posted in gallery post.
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  8. easyeyes4you

    easyeyes4you Well-Known Member

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    Here is mine finally.... this one has had me blocked for days.... 450 words
    journaling in the gallery

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  9. Mama Shades

    Mama Shades Well-Known Member

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    Journaling is NOT my favorite but I did it! (319 words):clap
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  10. Bagheertje

    Bagheertje Well-Known Member

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    The first year we had a dog
    333 words in Dutch. Translation in the gallery, 332 words in English.
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  11. aballen

    aballen Don't make me break out the milk

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    I wrote about us missing the mountains since we moved to NC. I hope it works. :)
    Words: 336
    Journaling: After a while of living in places with mountains, we found ourselves missing them and decided to see if we could find some mountains around our new city. Someone told me we should visit Mount Airy if we wanted to see some mountains around here. So, on a Saturday we decided to go for a drive and explore around Mount Airy. On our way there it started raining but that didn’t stop us from going on a drive. The fall colors were still neat to see. Once we made it to Mount Airy we realized that there were no mountains. There was not even a mount! We drove back the way we came and then saw a small mountain up ahead on the road. It turned out to be Pilot Mountain. After living in the Rockies this mountain seemed a bit small to us but, we were determined to see a mountain that day, so we carried on. We discovered that Pilot Mountain is in a state park. We drove through and up the winding road to the top. By now it was pouring rain. We got out of the car, each of us holding an umbrella. The whole place had an eerie feel to it because the clouds we so low that it felt like fog. We walk up to the lookout to discover that we could not see anything because of the clouds. We walked around for a bit and from what we could see it was a pretty place. There are paths and hiking trails all around. We promised ourselves that we would be back to see it on a sunny day. When we made it to the bottom of the mountain the clouds had momentarily moved to uncover the top of the mountain. It was a beautiful sight to see! We realized that the mountains won’t be as tall as we are used to but there is no reason to not appreciate the beauty of all of them, no matter the size.
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  12. pagefrocks

    pagefrocks ♥•:*¨¨*:•♥•:*¨¨*:•.♥

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  13. bjthomas

    bjthomas We will rock you!

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    569 words (!!)
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  14. breeoxd

    breeoxd Well-Known Member

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    Just over 300 words- 305! Phew! Thanks for the inspiration!
     
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  15. G.J.

    G.J. If I Could Turn Back Time

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    Thank you so much for the challenge, it took me a while but finally I found the pictures. Here's my take, full credits in gallery. I count 341 words. Wishing you a wonderful day!
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  16. CathQuillScrap

    CathQuillScrap I suspect foul play...

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    After much dithering I finally got this one put together. Journaling in credits at 462 words
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  17. jetjez

    jetjez Swim the deepest ocean

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    On my dad and the ship de Ruyter. 452 words

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  18. Monica Moriak

    Monica Moriak Well-Known Member

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  19. Mrsdudds

    Mrsdudds Well-Known Member

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    I have done a tribute page to my best friend (hope this meets the requirements). Journalling contains 306 words
     
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  20. got2digiscrap

    got2digiscrap Well-Known Member

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    Thank you for hosting.
    kit: Jackpot by Kristin Aagard
    https://the-lilypad.com/store/digital-scrapbooking-kit-jackpot.html
    template: Torn Paper Edges by HeartString Scraps Art
    font: Quicksand bold
    journaling:
    I remember back in my 20s I would go to Las Vegas at least twice a month. Yes, I loved the architecture. I loved to see things change. You could see a building go up and then as Vegas does it would be gone in a couple of years. Amazing to see. I remember being in Las Vegas and watching the news covering the crumble of an older casino so the Trump towers could build. It was amazing to see the count down and coverage on the news. It was almost as if you were watching the news cover the countdown of the ball drop in New York city every year.

    The architecture brought me, but I would go to see the guy I was dating. The funny thing is as time progressed my trips slowed, the romance slowed and then both stopped. Sure, he would come here because it was his hometown. His mom lived here in the same city.

    Eventually, we stopped our travel between the cities. I moved on and he moved on. Then he decided he wanted a part of our daughter's life. As we started traveling between the cities for different reasons. It is funny, the architecture is still there and great to see but walking the strip and going to site seeing with a kiddo are not the same as going to sightseeing with a romance and a twenty perspective is not the same.

    Vegas is still wonderful to remember about and see the older pictures and visit but it is not the same. How I remember the city is used to be and remember how it changed from my twenties to my not-so twenties.

    Thank you to the city I adored so much in my twenties I am sure my daughter will someday remember it differently when she sees it change from her childhood visits to her twenty's visits. I look forward to hearing her twenties perspectives when she goes to not so twenties visits.

    (335 words)

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    Link to the gallery: https://the-lilypad.com/forum/galleries/moc10_rememberancelasvegas.499432/
     
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