Your trumpet and Nen

Why is it that children seem to have a great memory... and then forget?

Nen was able to remember you and the things you two did for a long, long time. The last story I have from Nen mentioning something new about you was from almost a year after you died. And the old stories he remembered for a long time. But then it reached a point where his memories of you were rather made of photographs and videos I showed him and stories we all told him. I hope one day he can recapture a memory of his own. That'd make me so happy.

I showed him your trumpet years ago, for sure when we moved into the condo in 2008. This year he has band as elective and lo and behold... he chose trumpet! I told him that was great because he could use your trumpet. He looked baffled--he had forgotten. I told him all about it and he was so excited that he wanted to see the trumpet right then. I went to the storage and brought it out for him. He started to play it, even though he didn't know how yet. I took a beautiful picture of him hugging the case, and some others that I attach here.

Yesterday ten years ago we celebrated my last birthday together... I just preferred to write the story of Nen and your trumpet.