FWF Free Write Friday: Keepsakes

I love to freewrite – it is the only type of writing I have completed for the past 6 years. Until 2013 that is. I was spending some time popping into blogs tonight and I happened upon a few new ones.

To take part click here to visit Kellie Elmore’s blog.

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Keepsake

Most people would have a keepsake that is jewellery or some ornamental piece, as I sit here and think of my keepsakes they are somewhat bigger, probably not worth as much, not that keepsakes are necessarily expensive. Particularly if you’re a mother talking about something your child has made for you. I take a keepsake to mean something that I would never willingly part myself from.

My keepsake was given to me by my Great Aunty, years ago. I used to stay at hers sometimes as a child and would read Reader’s Digest in lieu of children’s books, as she didn’t have any. She used to give me some of the hardback offers she’d get when I was older.

She gave me her paperback (well used copy) of Roget’s Thesaurus when I took my A levels at college. It has been on my shelves ever since. I had already started writing and was published the year before she gave this keepsake to me. It was only this year, as I took it off the shelf (and blew the dust off it) I noticed something for the first time. I think I have used it more in the past 3 months than all the years I have had it.

Something I noticed that makes it even more special, is it was printed the year I was born. To me this Thesaurus will always encompass my Great Aunty’s love for me and also her belief in who I was destined to become – even back then she knew me better than I know myself.

15 responses »

charlesmashburn on March 24, 2013 at 12:15 pm said:

Wonderful write! I, too, loved the Reader’s Digest, and cut my teeth on them.
http://charleslmashburn.wordpress.com/2013/03/24/the-things-i-carried/

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- neenslewy on March 24, 2013 at 10:55 pm said:
  
  Thanks Charles, my grandparents used to keep a small library of children’s books for my brothers and I when we stayed. I remember my Great Aunty had a couple of ‘Ladybird’ books with vegetable characters but mainly I would have my nose in the Reader’s Digest whilst she did the crossword in the paper.
  
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Annie (@txstarkeeper) on March 24, 2013 at 2:33 pm said:

This is an amazing piece … what an awesome keepsake. So glad you found Kellie’s FWF and hope you come back…I look forward to more of your writing … Annie

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- neenslewy on March 24, 2013 at 10:52 pm said:
  
  Thanks Annie, I am glad I found Kellie’s blog too, had a good look around beyond FWF. I certainly hope to dip into the challenges again next week.
  
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Dishilicious on March 24, 2013 at 8:24 pm said:

it’s so to know there are those loved ones out there who always believes in you. came across your blog through #fwf. nice post. good luck with everything.

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- neenslewy on March 24, 2013 at 10:50 pm said:
  
  Thank you, I discovered Kellie’s Blog last night and the FWF Challenge. It was fun reading about other people’s keepsakes.
  I hope you enjoyed the blog.
  
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  - Dishilicious on March 26, 2013 at 6:37 pm said:
    
    i did. and i meant to say it’s so nice to know… 🙂
Joanna on March 25, 2013 at 12:05 am said:

I found you through Kellie’s FWF, Keepsakes was my first time too. What an incredible story – that your great aunt bought the new edition of Roget’s Thesaurus for you the year you were born. Words are clearly destined to be a big deal in your life 🙂

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- neenslewy on March 25, 2013 at 1:21 am said:
  
  Thanks Joanna, glad you found the blog, hope you enjoy having a look around.
  I’m not sure my Great Aunty bought it for me, but she did buy it the year I was born.
  She gifted it to me years ago and I can’t believe that this year is the first time
  I realised the print edition was from my birth year.
  My family are delighted that I am writing again and that I have already found success this year.
  I am happy to be following my creative spirit at least.
  
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graypoet on March 25, 2013 at 12:59 pm said:

I’m glad to see you have joined the FWF group and hope you continue…. I enjoyed your post and look forward to more.

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- neenslewy on March 25, 2013 at 7:24 pm said:
  
  Thanks, I’m glad you liked it. Glad I found it too… I’m looking forward to reading more FWF!
  
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  - graypoet on March 25, 2013 at 7:33 pm said:
    
    Getting to be quite a group of regular contributors, including poets, writers and even ones like me that just throw something at the screen…. 🙂
  - neenslewy on March 25, 2013 at 11:45 pm said:
    
    That’s great. And as for throwing it at the screen that’s what freewriting is all about. I look forward to checking out more blogs next time I’m online.
    They don’t work on my phone.
gailkav on April 4, 2013 at 9:48 pm said:

Great piece,I love the flow. I bought my first Roget’s decades ago with pocket money. I used it until it finally fell apart in the 90s.

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- neenslewy on April 4, 2013 at 10:26 pm said:
  
  Thanks Gail, mine is getting there (falling apart) I handle it like a precious book!
  Great thing to spend pocket money. I saved mine for records or blew it on sweets!
  
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