Fresh write, when we got rid of a bunch of furniture and householsd things on Nov. 30. Writing helped me with the loss. Did I do the right thing? John says YES! I’m wanting to add more images (??)—need to htink on it. (My first line is weak—trying to think of something better.)

1920 Vanity

Grandma Mimi had it

in her bedroom upstairs,

to the left, at the end of the hall

then it became mother’s,

like an old-fashioned dresser

but for beauty and primping,

three deep drawers on each side

a wide one in the center

all tongue-in-groove

mahogany, solid, heavy,

a matching wood chair with a carved rose at the top

and roses needlepointed on the seat, by Mimi.

Mother kept it in a spare bedroom

drawers stuffed with combs, brushes

old makeup, sewing notions.

She stacked things on it,

piled high with mending,

wool blankets, old clothes.

Later, in assisted living

she sat at it to dry her hair.

Eventually handed-down to me,

I tried it as a desk once, too low,

then stored some art supplies, rarely used.

I stacked things on it too,

moved it a round,

too big for the bedrooms

or elsewhere in the house.

Today, I emptied the drawers

of memories

and finally let it go.