Friday, February 11, 2022

Museum of Me - February 2022


Hello and welcome to the February installation at the Museum of Me. The staff has been working hard on a new exhibit. This has involved some searching through the archives, dusting, and rearranging. If you'll please follow the docent, she'll show you around this month's exhibit. This month it's a Valentine's Day memory. 

I've never celebrated Valentine's day in a big way but made plenty of heart-shaped meatloaves and brownies decorated with those awful chalky conversation hearts when the boys were young. I used to enjoy helping Ryan and Justin make valentines for classmates (possibly more than they did) with red and pink construction paper, doilies, red foil hearts, and glue sticks. One year we had a great idea for a Valentine card, and the museum staff unearthed it from deep in storage. 


When the boys were about four and six years old, John started traveling extensively for work. Sometimes it was just for a few days, but there were plenty of times when he went to South America or Asia for two or three weeks at a time. When I asked Ryan and Justin what they wanted to do for Daddy for Valentine's Day, they thought a really big card would be a good idea to show how much they missed him. I don't remember how we came up with this idea of having them form the letters but I do remember how much fun we had doing it. This was back in the olden days when you had to take photos and then take them to be developed, so it was a project. 


We cut out the photos and backed them with construction paper that was originally red, and then glued them on a piece of poster board that was originally blue. John had it thumbtacked in his office for many years, so it has faded quite a bit. It might have helped if the museum staff had used acid-free paper and some better archival storage than putting it on a shelf with the rest of the photos, but the sentiment is still there.


I love the goofy grins and Justin's favorite dinosaur shirt.


I remember there was some discussion about who got to be upright and who had to lie down for the L, but they're both smiling in the picture. 


Most of all I love these kids and this Valentine's Day memory of how much fun we had at home together. 

The Museum of Me exhibits will be changed monthly on the second Friday of the month, so please stop by again in March for the next carefully curated installation. (The gift shop is on the right on your way out!)

17 comments:

  1. This is the best Valentine card EVER! Sweet and clever and perfect in every way! (Those little smiles.) Thanks so much for this most excellent exhibit. XO

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  2. That is fantastic! Look how cute your boys were! What a great heirloom you created.

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  3. This is the very best Valentine I have ever seen, Bonny. I bet you three did have a great time making this, and a great time doing lots of other things as well. This is priceless, and I thank the museum for displaying this exhibit. Happy weekending!

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  4. This might be the best Valentine card I have ever seen, Bonny! I bet John loved getting this as much as you all loved making it! :)

    My thanks to the diligent museum staff for finding this treasure!

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  5. There are not enough words to express how much I love this! I would never have thought to take photos to form the letters. That's such a great idea and one that requires a serious commitment, because I remember how long it used to take to wait for photos to be developed!

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  6. This is just so priceless Bonny! What a wonderful gift for John and how much fun you and the boys must have had creating this. Their grins say it all. I also love that John had it up in his office for some time. Just perfect!!

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  7. ADORABLE. You should keep that one forever!

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  8. what an adorable way to celebrate Valentine's day! I've never seen it. We don't do much but I did paint and mail out some cards :)

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  9. I got lost looking for the gift shop (a common problem for me). Totally love handmade cards and with photos, no less. I'll bet John was very pleased with his card. A museum staff does what it can when funding is low. Your museum shouldn't be faulted. Art is to be enjoyed, ya know?

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  10. I think that is one of the best Valentines I've ever seen! What a treasure for your museum!

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    1. Thank you, Debbie! I can remember the day we took the pictures so distinctly, and it was so much fun putting the Valentine together.

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  11. What a creative and beautiful memory!

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    1. Thank you, Kim! I was happy that I was able to find it; it brought back a lot of happy memories!

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  12. That is so cute.

    Stephen also had a dad that traveled a lot. There were some interesting souvenirs when he came home from overseas.

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  13. That is a darling Valentine. I agree with Mary, it is a treasure. I'm glad you still have it.

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Thank you for visiting and taking the time to comment! :-)