Quite simply, I cannot think of a better start to this blog than this video. Take a second (or ~3.5 minutes) to watch it:
A lot has changed in the five years since I created this video in grad school. The boyfriend has become a husband. We have a new refrigerator (yay!). And the magnets have been carefully packed away in a box to make room for a certain three-year-old’s artwork on the new refrigerator — because isn’t it the duty of all parents to proudly display their child’s first scribbles to anyone who happens to wander into the kitchen?
But even though the magnets are out of sight now, they’re not out of mind. Through all the toddler clutter of toys and books and tiny clothes replaced far too often because she’s growing up so fast, I can still feel the magnets tugging at me from their hibernation in a box in the attic. Waiting.
Waiting for me (us) to get to a point where we’re ready to start adding to our collection again.
Until then, though, I’m trying to appreciate every magical, mundane and maddening moment of my life in the here and now.
So grab a glass of wine. Sit down. Let’s hang out for a while.
I love the story being told through something so seemingly mundane. My husband and I have been collecting silly magnets, not necessarily just from our travels, but I can recall just about every memory related to them and it instantly puts a smile on my face. Great job!
I love this video. We do the magnet thing too, such a space-effective souvenir! Look forward to reading more of your blog as it unfolds.
Thanks, Emma! I’ve just discovered your blog, too, so I’ve bookmarked it so I can keep up with you and your family! 🙂
Love this video! Can’t wait to read more. 🙂
Thanks so much, Christine! 🙂
This post is close to my heart Laura since my mom and dad who live thousands of miles (i miss them!) have a magnet collection on their refrigerator too!
Oh, that’s wonderful! I’ve found it really is a lovely way to keep travel memories at your fingertips. Thanks so much for commenting!
EXCELLENT video, Laura! And a fantastic start to what I have no doubt will be an most interesting blog full of your tales.
Thanks, Dyanne — glad you enjoyed it! The video was by far one of my favorites from my time in grad school. I’m happy to have finally found a way to post it somewhere.
A nice way to look back on journeys you’ve taken! For me, it’s not magnets, but I’ll buy one thing from each country / trip and just walking around and touching those objects bring back a flood of memories. Sometimes life happens, but we can all try and nurture that spirit of adventure and discovery!
Thanks, James! I like to get other souvenirs, too, especially art. But there was something lovely in seeing all those places represented in an area small enough to be taken in at a glance. I’ve toyed with the idea of making them into Christmas ornaments. I like the idea of pulling each of them out once a year to hang on a tree and remembering where I was when I got them. Thanks for the comment!