farmdoc's blog post number 280

‘Memento’ is the imperative Latin word for ‘remember’. The early fifteenth century Psalm cxxxi in the Canon of the Mass begins with the word ‘memento’, and commemorates the dead. Around 1768, the usage of ‘memento’ widened to include a keepsake or souvenir, i.e. items not specifically related to death. Last Friday Sweetheart Vivienne told me a young relative of hers had become very distressed when one of Lucy’s possessions was given away. Initially I didn’t understand, but now I think that object was a memento – according to the word’s fifteenth century meaning and not its eighteenth century one. Then yesterday I came across this surprising article in Haaretz about the recent phenomenon of the families of fallen Israeli soldiers wanting to keep their sons’ personal weapons. And then there’s the practice, seemingly increasingly prevalent, of road trauma victims’ relatives or friends placing small shrines at the crash locations. Self-evidently those shrines are mementos commemorating the dead. In last Friday’s mail came an exquisite doll (pictured). It’s clasping a heart, and also a note from Harry and Marge Greenberg’s daughter Jo and her husband Jim telling us their love and thoughts are with us at this time. Jo hand-made the doll especially for us (while Jim washed the dishes). Thank you, Jo and Jim. Though a cliché, it’s nonetheless true that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. We will treasure that memento, and also your thoughtfulness and love, forever.