A random shopping list travels across the world
This is a random shopping list which my daughter inadvertently took back to England after a brief visit home to Australia a few years ago.
She found it, many months later, and used it in her Instagram #100daysof happy post, as it gave her a sense of happiness.
How random is that? I somehow don’t think it was worth taking all that way, but then I think if it gave her a feeling of connection to me over on the other side of the world, then yes it was worth it!
As she says:
Finding a random shopping list in mum’s handwriting that weirdly made it back with me from Aus. #missing home
This post is in response to the Weekly Photo Challenge: Letters – click here for more details and to see other posts on the subject. I like the wording of the challenge from The Daily Post and once again I seem to have taken it fairly literally:
For this week’s challenge, share a photo with letters — no matter the alphabet. You can capture a neon sign, a sentence scribbled in an old phone booth, a random letter that’s seemingly out of place, or anything else. As you look through your lens, think about how your image might convey something bigger: a snapshot of how we communicate with one another, even if we don’t speak the same language.
Letters are everywhere and sometimes it is more the connection they create than the actual words they make.
Deb x
Sharing for Denyse’s #Lifethisweek 6/51 in 2018 and again in August 2021
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Everyone has a story to tell! Deb is a young-at-heart & active 60+ blogger/retiree, after being made redundant from her 22-year career managing education programs in a men’s correctional centre (jail). She now spends her time reading, blogging, riding her ebike and travelling. Deb was awarded a Bravery Award from the Queen when she was 17 after a tragic accident – a definite life changing moment! She is married with 3 grown-up daughters & has 4 grandchildren. She never imagined being Granny Debs would bring so much joy to her life! You can read more of Deb’s story here
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Deb's World 
That’s nice it made her feel connected! It’s funny the little things we don’t really think make an impact and they really do!
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Yes Connie, that’s so true, it made me smile when I saw her comments. Love those ‘little’ things.
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Very Sweet!! 🙂
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Great story with a unique shot!
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Thanks!
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🙂 You’re welcome!
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I have also seen this #100daysofhappiness on Instragram – I have thought about taking part; but I don’t think that I could have 100 days in a row of happiness…
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It sounds like a nice idea doesn’t it – making sure you look for and find some little piece of happiness every day? Not necessarily happy days but happy moments.
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Thanks for mentioning my blog in your post 🙂 your blog is looking great.
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Oh I love this shopping list note. I enjoy finding old stuff, especially written, when I do laundry. These small notes bring back moments where they were important.
Cool post, Deb.
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Thanks Evelyne, I appreciate your comment. It was a lovely moment to share.
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I find this moving, as the handwriting we use when we are not thinking about making it pretty (like on a greetings card) is so natural and part of us. I keep bits of writing people have scribbled, and over the years it just means more!
Terrific post!
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Thanks so much for your kind words. You are right – we do write differently when it is for a different purpose and shows a part of us. It was a lovely moment when I found out just how my daughter felt when she discovered this random list.
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😀
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Ah, y’know – I do things like this too. Mostly out of forgetfulness, but also partly out of wanting to retain a connection with home. I’m a Scotsman living in England right now!
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Thanks for the visit Raymond! It was really funny at the time 😊
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Haha. Thank you 🙂 – yes. I’m sure that will happen to us in the future when our son leaves home
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How sweet that your shopping list gave your daughter a feeling of connection to you across the miles. Thanks, Deb, for sharing this. #lifethisweek
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Yes Natalie, it’s a lovely simple thing that connected us across the miles. Thanks 😊
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It’s interesting what connects us over space and time, isn’t it?
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It sure is Vanessa! This sort of thing always makes me happy.
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I loved that she kept it, that she shared it, and that it reminded her of you. I also liked that there was lactose free milk on the list – I’ve been going lactose free lately to see if it helps my dry “old lady cough” xx
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I’m with your daughter on how shopping lists or anything handwritten bring powerful waves of nostalgia up inside me. In this world of e-everything and highly stylized and glossy hardcopies of things that aren’t digital, holding a piece of paper with handwriting on it is quite special.
SSG xxx
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It really was so special. Thanks for sharing your thoughts xx
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I believe we share our life beyond “life” when we have what is in writing. I was never particularly close to my mum (or dad really) but Mum wrote a few letters to me that mean the world to see and remember and she hand wrote recipes that I still have in my cook book. Dad, who is still alive, is a prolific writer but has slowed down. The connections we have with family via the “marks on the paper” are more significant in these days of tablets and iphones. As a K-2 teacher at heart, I have always loved seeing little kids writing get started and I even have some little vids I took of my 2nd youngest granddaughter when she was with me 3 days a a week in 2014. Watching her examine this thing that is a thick pencil and then giving it a go aged around 18 months. Best!
Thanks for sharing on Life This Week. Next week’s optional prompt is: 7/51. Self-Care: Share Your Story. #1. 18/2/19. Denyse
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That’s really lovely. It would make a lovely story – we’re watching the new season of Modern Love and it would fit in with that.
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Thanks Lydia, it really appealed to me too and I couldn’t help but share it again. I’ve not heard of that series, I’ll have a look!
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That’s beautiful Deb and I completely understand how it made your daughter happy. I get a lurch in my heart whenever I see Mum’s handwriting these days. Mum is still with us but her handwriting is so very familiar and comforting to me and so very uniquely her! Hope you have a wonderful week. xo
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Thanks Min, it’s a bit old now but still resonates with me. I remember getting a lurch like that when I saw my grandmother’s writing and notecards arrive.
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Oh that’s lovely. It’s like finding notes in a book or notebook – left by someone else (a loved one) – and that joy at the familiarity of their writing!
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It really was lovely Deb and lifted us both at the time.
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This is so lovely Deb. I certainly can understand the happiness the shopping list would have given to your daughter, especially being so far away. I love the way you’ve combined two prompts into one post. Very clever x
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Thanks Jen, it was a lovely memory and i just had to share it again!
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It’s a beautiful connection alright.and I re-read my comment fro 2019 so…”that” too.
Thank you for linking up for Life This Week. Next week, the optional prompt is Time. I hope to see you link up again. Warmest wishes, Denyse.
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Thanks Denyse, it was just perfect for your prompt (again)!
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So lovely! We were clearing out some cupboards the other day and I found all the birthday and anniversary cards my mum sent us – made me quite teary but it was so lovely to see her writing. I think those little notes and messages really keep us connected, especially as we don’t write so much these days.
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Oh that’s lovely Sammie, but sad too. The connection is always there xx
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