It’s been years since I gave any thought to the drawer. The one on the shadowy landing upstairs.

Not surprising really … it’s been more than 55 years since I visited my grandparents’ house. A good 65 years {and a whole lot of life has passed by} since last I peeked into the drawer.

What’s even more mysterious is why those memories came flooding back to me now? Random thoughts of the drawer have monopolized my mind for the last couple of weeks, and try as I might I have no rational way to explain their persistent presence. Even when I banish them, a few minutes later they bounce right back! It’s all very puzzling!

At times like these I’m compelled to write. For me it’s not about writing to an audience or following, it’s about getting thoughts out of my head and onto paper, to unclutter my mind, making room for more thoughts, different thoughts. I think of it as pouring out feelings in words. Adamant expressions that hold on tenaciously until they’re released by the written words.

Back to the drawer.

It was dark and shadowy on the landing area of the second floor in my grandparents’ house. The ceiling light was dingy and swung gently when switched on, but it was intriguing up there, as well as a little scary to a young girl. Parked against the wall in this small hallway leading to two bedrooms, was an old walnut chest of drawers, with ornate brass handles at each end of the stack of 4 or 5 drawers. I’ve no idea what was hidden away in the lower drawers. The only one that mattered to me was the top drawer. My grandfather’s drawer.

Grandad would occasionally take me by the hand and guide me upstairs to the top drawer on the landing. At the age of 6 or 7, I could barely see the contents as I peeked over the top, on tip-toe. I loved that drawer. I felt so privileged that my grandfather entrusted me to hold treasures that clearly were very meaningful to him. Significant mostly because of memories or feelings those items stirred in him.

Oh how I wish I could remember everything in the drawer.  Alas! I don’t!

What I do recall vividly is the musty, moldy smell that escaped whenever the paper-lined drawer opened up and revealed the various treasures. Grandad would select something, describe it, tell a short story and hand me the object. Goodness, these old treasures captured my attention and imagination every time! I was enthralled.

I do know this. There were old coins of foreign denominations that he’d brought back from serving in the British Army in World War I … coins from France I assume, since he was deployed in the trenches there. I believe there were a few old watches, definitely one pocket watch and chain that he’d worn at one time, and that he promised I should have, and there were his WWI medals and ribbons and an assortment of many other wonderful trinkets like small pen knives, padlocks, keys and who knows what else.

I was 17 when he died at 77 years old. I never received the pocket watch {I don’t know what happened to it} but I do have the WWI medals and a few coins.

I also have one or two more treasures from my grandfather.

I have many warm wonderful memories of train-spotting with him and my Dad. We’d go off on the weekend, just for an afternoon, to a busy train station and “spot” the old steam engines. Each had a unique number on the engine and when we spotted it, we’d enter the number into the little book of trainspotting.

And when I had measles and was confined to bed, itching all over, he’d ride his bicycle several miles to our house and tickle my feet … something that calmed down the itchiness and helped me get through the childhood illness.

The most treasured item is his Easter gift to me in 1952 … my first bible that bears the following inscription ………………

Of all those prominent in my life as a little girl, I have to say without a doubt that it was my grandfather who influenced my faith, who led me to the Lord, who exemplified the life of a Godly man, a gentle caring man of extreme faith and conviction.

So grateful to you Grandad. Thank you from the bottom of my little girl’s heart. I will always love you and I’ll never forget you.

“And [thine] age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.”   Job 11:17