Boxes

"From the inlaid jade and coral jewelry boxes of the Orient to the utilitarian salt boxes of the Pennsylvanian Dutch, the allure of the box has transcended all cultural and geographical boundaries of the world. The cigar box, the snuff box, the cash box, jewelry boxes more ornate that the treasure they hold, the ice box, and the candle box. Trunks, long and rectangular boxes covered with cowhide, stretched taut, and pounded with brass studs to a wooden frame. Oak boxes, sterling boxes; to the delight of the women, hat boxes and shoe boxes; and to the delight of all enslaved by a sweet tooth, candy boxes. The human life cycle no less than evolves around the box; from the open topped box called a bassinet, to the pine box we call a coffin, the box is our past and just as assuredly, our future. It should not surprise us then that the lowly box plays such a significant role in the first Christmas story. For Christmas began in a humble, hay-filled box of splintered wood. The Magi, wise men who had traveled far to see the infant King, laid treasure-filled boxes at the feet of the Holy Child. And in the end, when He had ransomed our sins with His blood, the Lord of Christmas was laid down in a box of stone. How fitting that each Christmas season brightly wrapped boxes skirt the pine boroughs of Christmas trees around the world. And more fitting that I learned of Christmas through a Christmas box." - Richard Paul Evans "The Christmas Box"

so keeping with the theme here is my life in a box or special boxes to me. as i look back i see boxes in all parts of my life and i'm sure there are even some that i don't remember or don't see.

as a little girl the boxes that my baby dolls came in (cabbage patch kids to be exact)
the old cardboard cigar box that i kept my treasures in
boxes of school supplies that remind me of when my sister and i would play school
the shoe boxes that i would keep letters in
not to mention the number of shoe boxes in my closet filled with shoes (i love shoes)
the wooden oak box that i got as a senior in high school that held special memories from high school

the cardboard boxes that now hold my high school memories
my jewelry boxes
packing up all the things in boxes to go away for college
the boom box (radio) that was in my dorm room my freshman year that put my roommate and i to sleep with sweet jars of clay music many nights that first year

the cedar box (chest) my dad made me that held special things through college
the box my engagement ring came in
packing up my college things in cardboard boxes when i got married
the large photo box, from my mother in law, that holds my wedding memories
packing more cardboard boxes to more across the country
the box that holds my beautiful nativity set from my parents
the photo boxes that hold many memories from Washington state
the box that holds most of my letters from my best friend

packing yet more cardboard boxes to move back across the country and that is where my life in a box remains for now. until we find a box most people call a house and move in and un-pack.

what are the special boxes in your life?