The Brown Paper Bag

I know.

To most of you, it's just a plain old bag.

Not so for me.

I can't begin to count how many of these paper bags have crossed my threshold

to enter my home.  Yes, many of them held groceries from the store

but most of them held so much more.

Sometimes, they were filled with books.

Good books.  Mostly mysteries, many with humor

that made me laugh out loud.

Other times, it would be a magazine or two or three

along with a box of tissues and a little sweet treat.

Of course, the contents were often holiday related.

Hearts, candy and cards for Valentine's Day,

a pot of gold for St. Patrick's Day,

cookies, fudge, gifts and glitter for Christmas.

In the later years,

the bag always had something for a child.

A little toy or bauble,

a pack of gum or chocolate bar.

Crayons, watercolors

or a fuzzy stuffed animal.

Of course the contents always changed with the seasons.

Spring and summer it was packed with vegetables or flowers,

live or seed packets.   Many times, it held coupons

to nurseries having sales.

Fall and winter, the magic bag held

a scrabble board

or crossword puzzles to be played or completed.

No matter what it held, it was special.

A treasure not to be undervalued.

The most important item it held was

LOVE.

  You see,

those bags were always brought in by my Mom.

The excitement is gone when I look at a paper bag today,

but the memories will last a life time.