There are many different objects in my home that portray my character or tell a story. However, there are only a few that are very special and symbolize a part of my life. The first one is the board game TROUBLE. I don’t know why or when but as far back as I can remember my grandpa and I played this game together. It got to the point that every time I saw him (which was about 3-4 times a week) we would play it 2-3 times. I became known as the champ because I could totally cream my grandpa. Maybe that’s why I loved to play it so much. As my high school days came we played less and less as I had homework to do, but when summer came it was like the old times. I still see my grandfather 3-4 times a week but now we don’t play games anymore. He has been diagnosed with ALS which is a nerve disease and he can no longer talk, eat or move on his own. Every time I walk through the back room and see the dusty TROUBLE box that lies in the shelf or even the brand new, unopened box on the store shelf, I am reminded of my grandfather. That game symbolizes the laughter and once happy times we use to share. It represents my childhood and summer days at grandma’s house. It is a memory that is forever ingrained into my heart. I hope to keep that old game box and keep it for the rest of my life as it is something that has become so dear to me.
Another symbol is a frog. In some cultures it represents luck pr fertility as frogs lay many eggs. It can also symbolize transformation and renewal as frogs grow from tadpoles to adult frogs. To me though, frogs represent my childhood and an old friend. When I was in 3rd grade I acquired an obsession over frogs. Everything that had a frog on it I was attracted to. Eventually my whole room became green and there was frog stuff everywhere. Then, in 4th grade my mom caught two frogs in the yard and bought a cage and some food and told me I could keep them. I named these frogs Legs and Lola. I had never had my own pet before so I was very excited. These frogs became my companions through the rest of my elementary years. I cleaned their cage every week and watched them jump around. Although there were some glitches such as an accidental loose cricket in the house, or sleepless nights because of croaking, these frogs were the best present that had happened to me. In an ironic sort of way Legs and Lola fulfilled the symbol of growth and transformation as well. For in October of my sixth grade year I woke up to find them dead. On that same morning I also began my womanly “special time”. It was almost as if they were saying, “Ok, it’s time for you to grow up now so we are going to go.” Looking back on it all now I am so very thankful that I was able to have those two years of fascination and companionship. To this day when I see or hear a frog I’m reminded of my two special buddies who gave me so much love and comfort.
The last little symbol that represents a piece of my life is a silver ring on my left hand. It is a promise ring I asked my parents for on one Christmas several years ago. It symbolizes a promise to God and to me to save myself for my husband. It is also a representation of my faith and what I believe in. I never take this ring off besides when I’m doing dirty jobs such as painting or yard work. I find that when it is off I sometimes panic because my hand feels naked without it and I immediately search my mind to figure out where I put it. When I look at my ring I’m reminded of the beauty of marriage and the excitement for my future husband. I thank God for giving me the strength to wait and am proud to honor him in my innocence.
