T is for Tom

T is for Tom: Remembering Tom (24th in a 30 piece series)

When we were kids, my dad had a leather key chain with his initial stamped into it. 

Not long ago, I was in a leather crafting store.  The smell of the leather reminded me of him (and the horse we had) and when I saw the key chains on the wall, I remembered his leather key chain with the T.  I love how our senses take us to places locked in the vault of our past. It was soft and bendable, worn from use.  He had it for years.  Maybe till he died.  I am not sure where it ended up.  I decided to make my own, and some for my siblings. 

It was a beautiful process, to create something like what he held in his hand and carried on his person, every day, for so many years. I cut the leather, finished the edges, stamped it, dyed it, placed the rivets through it and the key ring on it.  I learned as I went, watched some YouTube videos, got some advice, much like what I would have received from him if I was doing something with my hands, or creating something.  I remembered the times I borrowed the keys or used them when I was learning to drive.  I thought about all the times he started his car, opened the door to the house, tossed the keys on the counter, shoved them in his pocket. It was a beautiful process;  to hold the every day experiences that made up his life within me as my hands crafted each piece.

My sister told me the keychain came from a craft fair at Gunstock, a campground we used to go to every summer.  She remembers seeing all the crafts and being there when he picked out the key chain.  I was probably a toddler. 

Today is my dad’s birthday, so in honor of this day that he arrived earth side, I mailed a keychain to each of my siblings.  We shared some memories on the phone. I listened to Eagles radio, Rock101 and a bit of country. I thought about buying a pack of Kools.

Tonight, I lit a candle and shared Chinese food with the kids– one of his favorite meals when he came to visit.  We shared Grampy memories.  I toasted him with Jack and Coke.  I texted with his friend. He would be 73.