Ashes to Dust

The old woman climbed the attic ladder. "one last time" she thought. Pulling herself into the stuffy hot attic she took a deep breath and relaxed. "one of these days, you're going to fall and not get up" she scolded herself out loud. She had fallen lately, a couple of times, and her old body didn't recover from the bruises and sprains like it used to.1

 2

Crawling on her hands and knees she made her way to the old cedar chest. She gently brushed the dust from the lid, and slowly opened it. There before her, was her life. At least her most memorable moments. In bits and pieces, piled by years. Vertical files of life's moments. Newest on top, oldest buried deep. Except for the top few most memorable layers, the best, and the worst. The most cherished, meaning the world to her, and nothing to anyone else.3

She sighed as she prepared herself for one last trip through memory land.
Pulling out the yellowed crumbling bouquet, she thought back to that day.  The war was raging, and Ollie would soon be leaving. She had been so young, and he so handsome especially, in his uniform. She giggled out loud at the thought of the night he proposed, moonlight on the dock, Spangle Lake,  he kneeled down, on one knee, took her hand and fell over...they both had laughed till they cried. And then, again, when she said "yes, yes, yes!" 4

"Oh Ollie," she whispered, "I miss you so, my love." It had been ten years since Ollie's death, she still felt him in the house. They were lucky though,they had celebrated 63 years together. She gently set the bouquet on the rafter. Next she  pulled out the large, old leather bound Bible. She opened it to the book-marked page. There was her family tree, from great, great, grandpa Craig, right down to her only boy James. 5

"Oh Jimmy" she thought, "why didn't you listen? We knew you shouldn't go out that night. But your friends were more important. I understand that...but  I still miss you son."
She thought back to that evening, it was dark, raining hard. Jimmy's friends were driving to town to see a movie. She and Ollie had begged Jimmy to stay home with them that night, but he hugged and kissed them goodbye, re-assuring them he would be fine. Only ten minutes later, Jasper the local sherrif's deputy was knocking on their door. At first they were glad to see their long time friend, but after he delivered the news, they were numb. Jasper assured them, it was a drunk driver who had caused the accident, Carl, Jimmy's friend was driving
safely, and all of the kids were wearing seatbelts. The drunk driver had swerved and hit them head on at the last minute, there were no survivors. 6

She closed the bible and picked up the newspaper with the headline: "Fve of Willow's most promising young people tragically killed in traffic accident." She picked up the fading black rose wreath that had hung on their door for over a year, until Ollie convinced her it was time to take it down, and move on.  7

And move on, they did, she picked up the cruise line brochure.  They had seen Alaska and Hawai'i, both via cruise ships.  Her mind whirrled with the memories of Glaciers in Alaska, and volcanoes in Hawai'i. Long moonlight walks on the beach and Mai Tais for breakfast. They had been lucky; no major health issues, comfortable; able to take the vacations they wanted every three or four years. And their marriage was always filled with love and respect for each other.8

They alway knew, they were true soul mates.
She shuffled through the next few layers, as if to bury the memories and find new ones. She was looking for one particular piece... a napkin. She had meant to take it with her the last time she was here. It was the first message from Ollie,  he had written it on a napkin from the officer's club. It was a phone number...and a short message... "you can always reach me here!!" Underneath, he had signed "Ollie" with two eyes and mouth.......she laughed at the thought of getting it from the waitress so many years ago. "He's a "keeper"" she said with a smile as she handed Jess the napkin.9

There it was! She stared at the sweetest memory she owned.
"I hope you're right, sweetheart" she said. "I will put your number under my pillow tonight...and try to reach you."
The old woman reached down and picked up the napkin.
"The paper crumbled at her touch like a pile of ashes"
Tears streamed as she put her head down, closed her eyes,
and drifted off to sleep...one last time...10