Mementos

When TV shows end, they often sell off and/or give away many of the props, costumes, and set pieces that made the show's world come alive. If you work on the show, you can walk away with a piece of your experience there. Over the years, I have been the proud owner of shirts and robes worn on Cosby, pots and pans and police evidence boxes from One Life to Live--the list goes on.
 
When OLTL ended, I brought home assorted clothes, most of which fit my daughters, not me (I have nowhere near an actor's figure). A few items, however, were too much fun to resist, so they entered my closet. The funny thing was, for more than two years after the show was over, I couldn't wear them. I can't explain it, really. It just felt odd, as if I were trying to be someone else, or as if people would look at me and know that I was wearing something that wasn't, well, mine.
 
Today, I wore one of those items. It just seemed as though it would be fun. It fit, it was comfortable, it brought back some entertaining memories. And maybe, just maybe, it made me feel a little bit like someone else for the day.
 
I think that one of the great things about mementos is that, if you let them, they can take you back to the good parts of things you've done. While the memories might make you sad, somehow the mementos put a happy twist on things. For me, perhaps the time and distance helped a bit too, but I can say for sure that enjoying my little costume memento made for a happy blend of good memories of yesterday and a good mood today.
 
When things end, you may think you can remember everything just in your head. But take mementos when you can. They make those memories all the better.