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Tom and Mary Milano
TomandMaryMilano@Yahoo.com
During our latter years, Mary & I made a conscious decision
to spend the remainder of our life collecting memories. We were inspired by a
meditation that J. R. Miller wrote about the famed theologian and world
traveler, Reinhold Niebuhr. [The same man that wrote the Serenity Prayer]
J. R. Miller wrote: Niebuhr, the theologian and distinguished traveler, became
blind in his old age. But, having traversed many lands, amid the fairest and
loveliest scenes of the world, he had stored away in his memory countless
pictures of landscapes, mountain-scenery, vales of rare beauty and great and
splendid cities. Then, as he lay upon his bed or reposed on his easy-chair, his
face would often brighten into a rich glow, as if some inner light was shining
through. He was pondering once more some splendid scene he had looked upon in
the sunny Orient. The chamber-walls of his memory were hung all over with
pictures which filled his darkened years with joy and beauty. It mattered not to
him that the light had gone out, leaving thick gloom all about him. His heart
was his world, and there was no darkness there. No putting out of sun or star
could obscure the pictures that hung in that sacred house of his soul.
In a far truer sense than many of us are aware our hearts make our world for us.
The things we behold are but the shadows of the things that are in us. If we
have bright pictures in our heart, the whole world, wherever we go or wherever
we are, will be a picture-gallery.
This beautiful meditation had a powerful effect on Mary & I.
We realized what Miller said about Niebuhr was what we would like to have happen
when the inevitable occurs. We decided we would make a conscious effort to spend
the rest of our life collecting memories. Memories we could hang on the
chamber-walls of our hearts, a picture gallery of all the beautiful moments we
have shared. We wanted to do as Niebuhr did, we wanted to make our hearts our
world where there would be no darkness.
One night Mary & I were reclining in our den and we decided we would look at
some of our many picture albums. Browsing the pages brought back a lot of
wonderful memories. Memories of our children’s childhood, friends who were an
important part of our life but due to relocating and not seeing them for many
years, we were no longer in contact with them. Experiencing the joy and
exhilaration we felt as we looked at their pictures and the reminiscing that
went along with it, I suddenly had an inspired thought. If looking at these
pictures could give us so much pleasure, how nice it would be if we could go
through our albums more often. But as most of you know, that isn’t very
practical. I thought, why not make a valance of framed 8x10 pictures of our
loved ones and friends that would circle the entire ceiling area of our den. As
I was telling Mary about my brainstorm, I saw her eyes begin sparkle and her
face was aglow and I knew I had her full approval, it was a go! We were going to
make a picture gallery of memories in our den.
Our den is like a mini theater. On the wall across from our double love seat
recliner, we have a seventy inch television, surrounded with bookcases. On the
left is a full wall of bookcases and shelving and on the right side of our den
is an eight-foot entrance, with a wall on both side that we hung collages of our
children and their families. When our project was completed, wherever we looked
in our den, we could see more than one hundred photos of loved ones and friends.
I know it’s hard to envision so we took some pictures for you to see.
Some nights when I am sitting in my recliner, looking at the pictures, as I go
from one to another I find myself recalling what happened when the picture was
taking or some special remembrance about that person. Our cruise pictures fill
our bookcase shelves. As I go from one to another, I am reminded of some of the
wonderful moments Wimpy shared with Mary. We also made collages of each of the
children and their families and have them hanging in the wall areas. Sitting in
our den surrounded with these beautiful pictures of our loved ones and friends,
brings our memories to life on a daily basis. The picture galleries in our
hearts are overflowing with treasured works of art. Those work of arts I’m
speaking of... are our loved ones... our friends... and my sweetheart Mary.
Soon after we completed our picture valance, we read a meditation by Fr. John
Powell from his book, ‘Seasons of the Heart,’ which validated and confirmed our
thinking and made what we did even more meaningful. He wrote; People are made of
memories. Half of what we are is determined by our memories. The things that
happen today in our families are the memories of tomorrow. Some memories happen,
but other memories must be planned. Yes, some memories happen: like the first
day at school, various things that are just part of daily life. But other
memories have to be planned: like Christmases and outings and birthdays. I think
it is really important to plan things because they keep playing as memories in
one’s mind and heart always. Half of what we are is indeed determined by the
memories we have inside of us.
[If you would like the details of how we did our picture valance, send us an
e-mail.]... now we are going to walk you around the pool area and then we will
tell you about the entertainment.
Happy cruising,
Tom & Mary Milano
TomandMaryMilano@Yahoo.com
Ever thought of becoming a part time or home based travel agent? Follow this link to see some of the books Tom Ogg has authored.
