While having the contractors creating 'dust' inside our home, I took it upon me to scan the final box of letters that Pieter found in the storage room under our front porch. TREASURES as those were Mom's letters from 1983 through 1988. Not only Mom's but also my Mother-in-law's and Pieter's brothers who no longer are with us.
We both treasure them so very much. But it was quite a task.
Yesterday I've completed the 1,187 scans by aligning and cropping them and filing by date.
We both treasure them so very much. But it was quite a task.
Yesterday I've completed the 1,187 scans by aligning and cropping them and filing by date.
Pieter did read them before they got tossed out but I have not yet had the time!
One sentimental treasure from Mom, that got sent with her mail in 1985, I would like to share here.
Even though it is in Dutch, I found the English wording as well. It is below...
Drievoudig
is de gang des tijds:
dralend komt
de toekomst nader,
pijlsnel is vervlogen
het heden,
eeuwig stil staat het verleden.
Schiller
The future comes slowly, the
present flies and the past stands still forever.
~ Friedrich Schiller on my Pinterest
Dreifach ist der Schritt der Zeit:
Zögernd kommt die Zukunft hergezogen,
pfeilschnell ist das jetzt entflogen,
ewig still steht die Vergangenheit.
~ Friedrich Schiller on my Pinterest
When I translate directly from the original German, it reads like this:
Triple is the step of time:
hesitantly the future comes up,
arrow fast the present is gone,
eternally still stands the past.
Love such sentiment!
And yes, our bathroom is DONE! So happy with it.
present flies and the past stands still forever.
~ Friedrich Schiller on my Pinterest
Zögernd kommt die Zukunft hergezogen,
pfeilschnell ist das jetzt entflogen,
ewig still steht die Vergangenheit.
~ Friedrich Schiller on my Pinterest
When I translate directly from the original German, it reads like this:
Triple is the step of time:
hesitantly the future comes up,
arrow fast the present is gone,
eternally still stands the past.
And yes, our bathroom is DONE! So happy with it.
Liebe Mariette,
ReplyDeleteherzlichen Dank für deinen interessanten Post.
Alles Liebe
Elisabeth
Liebe Elisabeth,
DeleteDanke und gerne.
Alles Liebe,
Mariette
Hello Mariette, You must be a stronger person than I--I could never bear to throw out the originals of personal letters. Such lovely reminders of your mother and other relatives. I am not so sure that I agree with that quote--the future springs up quickly enough, while there are those intent on rearranging the past.
ReplyDelete--Jim
Dearest Jim,
DeleteGuess for keeping those letters in their digital form, far outweighs the fact that they were extremely musty smelling... This way it is BEST for all relatives and for me.
You are so right about those rearranging the past. But there always will remain true facts and the intelligent, well read people can never be convinced. History will learn...
Hugs,
Mariette
Hello again, I agree with you that musty things cannot be kept--not only because of the odor, but they also can infect other things. Since digital copies are not without their own problems, I hope that you have an appropriate system of back-ups and off-site copies. --Jim
DeleteDearest Jim,
DeleteYes, I certainly do have that arranged.
Those letters went twice across the Atlantic ocean, sat in a storage room from February till November and when we had the water entering our work shop etc. we worked with a wet vac and guess Pieter put that box inside the higher storage... Forgotten and things worsened. Glad that our home is now water proof and that most things still got digitalized.
Hugs,
Mariette
That was quite a job with all that scanning!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the newly renovated bathroom and have a great week Mariette.
Dearest Sami,
DeleteOh, so very happy that I tackled that last huge scanning task!
You bet we enjoy our new bathroom, it feels so cozy and warm especially since we had our first frost last night and also tonight again.
Hugs,
Mariette
Muito interessante minha amiga.
ReplyDeleteUm abraço e boa semana.
Andarilhar
Dedais de Francisco e Idalisa
O prazer dos livros
Dearest Francisco Manuel,
DeleteThank you very much!
Hugs,
Mariette
Those letters are treasure indeed! It must have been quite a task to scan that many.
ReplyDeleteIt's great your bathroom is done. I bet it looks beautiful! Have a happy new week, Mariette! xo
Dearest Tamago,
DeleteYes, it almost was an overwhelming task... but I got it done with perseverance, my usual ingredient for such things!
The bathroom is done just in time for the cold time we're living in right now.
You can see it tomorrow here when I show some photos.
Hugs,
Mariette
Those are real treasures! Now in the era of communications, we cannot those simple pleasures.
ReplyDeleteDearest Krishna,
DeleteYou are so right that nowadays it almost is becoming an extinct way of communication.
But on the other hand, not many have letters like us, immigrants still have...
Hugs,
Mariette
Congratulations on completing the renovation! Now it's easier to feel ;-) (Wonderful memories) Have a nice evening
ReplyDeleteDearest Anne,
DeleteYes, wonderful memories and all got scanned; great feeling.
As for the bathroom, it got done JIT = Just In Time before we live through cold nights with frost.
That makes it look and feel extra cozy! So happy with it.
Hugs,
Mariette
How wonderful. I love your new cranberry header. I have cassette tapes that my parents sent to me in the late 70’s when I lived in the Netherlands...I treasure them.
ReplyDeleteDearest Janey,
DeleteThank you and yes, you too have been an immigrant that went to live across the Atlantic, away from Parents and family.
Guess in a way those are the bonus memories we have!
Hugs,
Mariette
Wisdom and introspection. Lovely sentiments, Mariette!
ReplyDeleteI see others also love your new cranberry header. So colorful and festive.
Dearest Debbie,
DeleteYes, those writers from ages ago did have a lot of wisdom and insight that still is valid.
Cranberries and red are such a happy addition to the now cold and freezing weather. At least we get frost at night since yesterday.
Hugs,
Mariette
Dearest Mariette's!
ReplyDeleteI was very happy with both of your not only Mom's but also your Mothers in lows and Piter found in strong room Done so happy with them!
Huge and love to your both!
Michiko oom what is very good
Dearest Michiko san,
DeleteYes, I was also very happy with Pieter finding all those letters inside the storage room, regardless the overwhelming task of scanning them!
Sending you a big all around hug,
Mariette
Hello dear Mariette!
ReplyDeleteThose letters are really treasures and so precious for you and Pieter!
I’m so glad your bathroom is done! Thank you for sharing!
Wishing you a lovely day and a happy week ahead! Hugs!
Dimi...
Dearest Dimi,
DeleteYes, those letter were unexpected treasures to be found. I'd thought we lost a box with letters during our move...
Our bathroom is such a joy now on cold nights outside. We both cherish our heat lamps, like luxury...
Hugs,
Mariette
Che meraviglia trovare ricordi così cari. Anch’io conservo tutti i miei ricordi in un grande baule antico. Arriverà il giorno che tirerò fuori tutto e lo rileggerò. Sarà un giorno triste che mi farà pensare a chi non ci sarà più.
ReplyDeleteUn abbraccio cara Mariette. Lorena
Carissima Lorena,
DeleteSì, tesori trovati e così rari da avere. Solo a causa del fatto che eravamo immigrati ed è così che i nostri cari hanno raggiunto verso di noi. La maggior parte di loro non sono più vivi... è triste, ma anche molto confortante. Parole tipo di evaporare, ma le parole scritte sono eterni.
Abbracci
Mariette
Dear Mariette.
ReplyDeleteIt was so good that you did not lose those letters, and did a great job with all of them.
What a treasure!!
The future comes slowly,
the present flies and the past stands still forever.
Such a beautiful poem. Thank you for sharing.
Dearest Tomoko,
DeleteIndeed, so glad they surfaced and they sure are a treasure!
Such a poem, sent by my Mom over 30 years ago is meaningful.
Hugs,
Mariette
Dear Mariette,
ReplyDeleteIt is a priceless treasure.
You have to keep it with everything possible, I can't part with these personal things.
Hugs and happy week-end
Dearest Nathalie,
DeleteIndeed a priceless treasure to keep!
It is one of the bonuses of being an immigrant I guess, you received handwritten letters from home...
Hugs and happy weekend to you,
Mariette
Wow! That was quite a task scanning all the letters and memorabilia. Congrats on finishing and on getting your bathroom back.
ReplyDeleteDearest Tammy,
DeleteYes it was a mega task and it feels so good for having that behind us!
Hugs,
Mariette