At Christmastime, my mind often drifts back to my childhood and the magic of the season. I remember the live nativity scenes at a local church, South Georgia's downtowns dressed up with dangling Christmas lights and showy evergreens, and a few of the toys my siblings and I discovered under the tree on Christmas morning—a Lite-Brite, a telescope, Milton Bradley's nerve-racking Operation game, a Mrs. Beasley doll, a nurse's uniform and bag with fake stethoscope and pills, a set of red stilts, and a BB gun (it was not a Daisy Red Ryder, and I did not shoot anyone's eye out).
Gloria Bennet of Dawsonville, Georgia remembers receiving a simple chalkboard—a gift form her stepfather, James. Indeed, she still has this priceless keepsake. It hangs in her office as a symbol of lifelong learning. Most of all, the chalkboard holds a beautiful Christmas memory from her past.
Gloria submitted "A Chalkboard for Christmas" to my Project Keepsake story contest, and her story received honorable mention from judging panel. One of the judges commented, "The writer's unwavering fascination for words came through to me. I love that the contributor remembers the moment of falling in love with letters and words and that the chalkboard has become a conduit for those special memories."
Enjoy Gloria's story!
Gloria is an accomplished writer. She writes poetry and prose and is a Pushcart Prize nominee for poetry. Her work has appeared in various literary journals and reviews. She teaches composition, literature, and creative writing at the University of North Georgia, where she is also the academic coordinator for writing and publication. She also serves on the Board of Directors and is a former President for the Georgia Writers Association. She is the current President of the Southern Literary Festival Association Executive Council. She recently published her first children's book, Summers at Howard Creek.
Thanks, Gloria, for sharing your lovely keepsake story with Project Keepsake, and good luck with your book!
What about you? Do you have a keepsake story? I encourage you to share your story with family and friends. Share the origins and histories of the most special keepsakes in your possession. Write down the stories that matter. Keep storytelling alive!
To read other stories about keepsakes and the memories they hold, please purchase a signed copy of Project Keepsake by clicking the link on the right. It's on sale now with no shipping and handling charges. And by the way, it's a great Christmas gift for a loved one, especially when paired with a keepsake.
If you live in Northwest Georgia, buy from one of these small businesses—Dave & Pauli's Art Emporium in Dalton, Cottage Treasures in Ringgold, Blue Willow Antiques in Cave Spring, The Lighthouse in Calhoun, the Harris Arts Center in Calhoun, or A Gift of Season in Calhoun, and the Payne Farm Vegetable Stand in Lily Pond.