I was cleaning my room, rearranging my books when my eyes stumbled on small leather bound book. I was taken aback. The cover of the book was faded and its pages were yellowed with age. But, the significance of the book remains unwavering.
This was a book I got from my dad and it had been a constant companion, like a symbol of connection to my younger years.
I remember the day I took this book from him. He was arranging his books that day (he loved reading and had a lot of books) and the eight year old me fell in love with reading because I saw him reading a lot. He called me and asked me to discard some old books, including that one. The inquisitive me started going through each of the books till that one caught my attention.
"Daddy, why do you want to throw this book away?" I had asked.
He replied, stating that it was no longer needed.
I opened the book again, carefully scanning through its pages. It was his diary. "Wow, daddy. You have a beautiful diary."
He smiled at me. "It's the book I use to record my thoughts, my adventures and my imaginations." He explained.
I got to a page. "Dear diary, I want to build a house for my family, I do not want to keep paying house rents. I already have some money saved up, I hope this wish comes to pass."
I was amazed. Dad had already written the thought of building us a house and it already happened.
I so much loved the book and I make out time to pick some wise quotes from his words. He really was a wise man. As I grew older, this book became a companion to me and I made sure to write more of my dad's life in the book. It was not until his death that I stopped writing.
I have carried this book with me through many life's ups and downs and each time, I'm comforted that there's someone who can relate with me, even through his writings. I have also gotten to write about myself, my mistakes, lessons, experiences and adventures in it. I kind of want it to continue holding beautiful memories for me. It shows me the importance of recording our life's stories.
It's more than just a keepsake. It is a testament to the enduring power of love, commitment and determination. It reminds me that even as we grow and change, our memories and our experiences shape us into the people we become. This book reminds me of the importance of holding on to these stories as they'd serve as a great memory when we get older and can even be passed to our generations.
Flipping through the pages of this book now, it seems like I'm being transported to my childhood days, sitting close to my dad in his room and watching him arrange those books carefully, my heart filled with love.
I have a sense of gratitude and love for my dad for this priceless book filled with many things that can help me sail through life. I know that even though he is no longer with me, his legacy lives on in the pages of this book and and I know that I'll always remember the love and connection we shared.
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