When notes become memories

I'm a simple person, wired to seek out articles and information that contain the words "notes," "one," and any combination thereof. Some say it's a job hazard. I'll let you be the judge.

When I chanced upon an article in Real Simple magazine, titled "Inside the God Box" by Mary Lou Quinlan, I naturally dropped everything and read. Mary Lou wrote about all the scraps of notes that her mother, Mary Finlayson, had jotted down during the past 20 years before she passed away.

Mrs. Finlayson was an extraordinary woman by any measure, but it was her compassion for others that really stood out. As Mary Lou puts it:

"Mom was so openly sympathetic that just about everyone, from waitresses to handymen, instantly confided in her. And she, in turn, took their problems to heart, mulling them over for days. Noticing that tendency, a friend suggested to Mom that she put a list of cares into a box. Just like that, the God Box was born."

As I read the rest of the article, I realized what treasures Mrs. Finlayson buried in little scraps of paper. Hundreds of love letters to her family, disguised as wishes. We all have those treasures, whether it's a birthday card, a sweet email, or an unexpected compliment. Sometimes I even hear stories of OneNote being used to archive precious family memories, scrapbooks, and celebrations. I just hope all of us are fortunate enough to hold on to them, as Mary Lou and her family have.

Happy holidays. Here's to building even more good memories.

-- Ayça Yüksel