衣櫃傳承 - Vanessa 和媽媽、阿嬤的故事

文：Vanessa Chen

It might sound silly, but... I’ve developed this obsession with owning some things belonging to my grandma or my Mom. Since when? Hate to admit, but it’s started ever since my grandpa passed away. Still remember how longing I was for keeping something of my grandpa’s while browsing through his desk. I ended up keeping his Ray-ban...I know, lucky me.

In a woman’s closet is which they store all the memories. My mind’s drawn to their closet like the calling of Pandora’s box. “It’s been decades since I last wore that dress” my Mom said. “I only wore it once” my grandma said. Restricted by reality in life, the clothes remain hung up on the rack, decently fresh-looking. Eventually, I get legitimate permission to unveil the mysterious box. What’s underneath the lid is loads of memory and story that cross different generations. I slip into the dress with yellow roses all over and square neckline.

The flowy skirt sweeps me back to the blooming era of my Mom’s. The air runs my nose through the aroma of those fresh yellow roses as I twirl in the dress. “It looks good on you.” my Mom said. Even though she said that, I still believe the dress is perfectly made for her, carrying laughters of our childhood that echos in my mind.

Sitting on my grandma’s bed, seeing her pulling her treasures out of her closet and telling me stories, it feels like a time travel, not through my past, but grandma’s. Fine blouses and dresses, I’m having a visual shock by the styles and patterns. ‘It’s now all coming back’ I said to my grandma. I bet there’s a crowd of young people dying for these clothes, and I’m just happen to be the lucky one to be passed down with Pandora’s jewelry box without a treasure hunt.