Maren’s Treasure

Maren sat in the middle of the room, or what had been the family’s gathering room. Now, dust, plaster and remnants of upholstery and wood surrounded her as she sat on the floor, sifting through the debris, hoping to find a few items that she could keep as remembrances of her family. A few weeks, no, days before, her life was moving forward in an orderly routine. Familiar events, people and things were taken for granted, as they always are. Now, she was alone. How would it be possible to survive, to even live from day to day? She could find food and a place to sleep, but what about people? There must be others somewhere, but it was too soon to go out and search for them. Just now, even thought was difficult.

“Who am I? I thought I knew myself. Am I the same person now, without anyone or anything from before? How could this happen? Please, let me find something to help me rebuild my life!”

In her mental anguish, she had offered a sort of prayer amidst the conversation with herself. Somehow, she needed to share her thoughts. As she rotated her position on the floor, preparing to get up, she noticed a little dusty lump in the debris. She lifted it and wiped off some of the silty dust. It was a necklace with a heart-shaped locket. She had a vague recollection of this hanging on someone’s neck. She opened the locket and found two tiny photos, one in each side of the opened locket. A man and a woman, young, possibly newlyweds. As she studied the tiny faces, she began to identify features that looked like a younger version of her grandmother. She began to recall that this was Grandma Johanna’s necklace. The photos were like larger ones she had seen years ago, as a little girl. They were her grandparents! Maren had never known her grandfather. He died before she was born. But she began to recall the stories her grandmother had told her when she was small.

Here, out of the dust, she had found a single tiny item that she could keep, as a remnant and a beginning of joining the past and the future.

Clearing the debris and discovering what parts of the house were still safe as a dwelling, began to occupy Maren’s time and thoughts. She had running water but would have to use her camping skills and household training to clean and cook, etc. “Now, I can be thankful for a mother who made me learn to use my hands, washing, cleaning, even sewing by hand. I couldn’t imagine why she wanted me to learn those things when we had machines to do everything! Thank you, Mom!”

Days, weeks, a month went by. A few people wandered past Maren’s house, called to her, sharing what they had learned, offering to help, and asking what she could offer. A small community building was standing. While electronics weren’t working, there were some books.

Maren found some photo albums and family history books in her home, and a library book about her grandparents’ life in Norway before they came to the United States. Maren began to discover who she was, as she read about a great grandfather who had been a musician and organist. His son was a member of the parliament, and his grandson became Prime Minister. There was also a family line that were directly descended from the Kings. Men who crossed the ocean, to find new homes, were followed a year or more later by their wives and children who made the Atlantic crossing without father and husband.

Maren found a family member who was a famous artist. Another great grandfather was a sailor, fisherman and carpenter. A story was told of how he saved a fishing ship and the entire crew from shipwreck as he bravely asked to be tied to the helm during a storm, while the others hid below.

As she began to clear away the dust from her home, she was clearing the veil from her memories. She was no longer alone because she had found her family. She was descended from strong, talented, intelligent, and productive people who weren’t afraid to move forward in the face of trials and new experiences. Worth more than any other treasure, Maren handled the locket necklace which she now wore. She thought, “I know who I am! More than that, I know who I can become!”