Umbrella as a Metaphor for Memories

Like umbrellas, memories shield us from the rain of time that washes away the bits and pieces that still tie those who have passed to this world. At the same time, they remind us that we are walking in the rain and we are being drenched, in pain, loss, anger, grief, sadness, and fear. Especially fear. Fear is not the scary monster under your bed. It is the realization that nothing lasts. Each day is a chisel, chipping way at forever until all we have is ever. Will we ever be able to do everything on our bucket list? Will we ever be able to go on a vacation will all our friends?  Will the umbrella ever break? Will we ever forget these precious memories? Instead of wearing your umbrella by opening it on a stormy day,  hold it in your hands and dance through the rain. We will get drenched, but lets get drenched together. Lets splash through the pain and waddle through the fear. Lets slip on our grief and swim through our anger. Lets do it together. Open your umbrella on a sunny day, when you can watch the sunlight filter through the fabric and feel the warmth and see the colors. Umbrellas protect us from both the rain and UV radiation, but they are easily breakable. Like memories. We may need them most on a stormy day, but they are far less breakable on a sunny day, and only then will they continue to give color to our lives. Treat memories gently; they are not forever.