This post is part of The Daily Post – Mnemonic.

So, I have to admit that I did not know what this word meant. Once I looked it up I knew exactly where I was going with my post today. My mnemonic devices are dates – not the fruit or ones I go on with my husband, but calendar dates.

You see, I really do not remember hardly anything from childhood, from my teens and some of my adult years. Heck, I can’t even remember what I had for dinner yesterday. Just kidding I do remember that but not very much from my life. So, because of this I use calendar dates and pictures to help me remember many things both good and bad, or should I say sad.

To give you an example. Today is the fifth anniversary of my grandma Wanda’s passing. She was 89 when she passed. Grandma Wanda and I had a daily ritual. She lived in Lamar, Missouri and I lived in San Antonio, Texas. Every morning I would call her at 7:30 AM and we would have our morning coffee together. She was not just my grandma she was my friend and my confidant. I have always said that she was my biggest fan.

My Grandma Wanda and Papa with me and my sisters!

First picture me and Grandma 1994, the second picture is last picture my sisters and I took with her on 12/31/2011.

 Of course, there are other dates that bring up memories. I spoke of turning 21 Again on the 4th of February. This post spoke of my celebrating 21 years of thriving and not surviving with HIV/AIDS. The two dates that I celebrate my anniversary for this important part life are January 23rd and then May 27th. The 23rd of January is when I was informed by the doctor at the plasma location center. May 27th is the day that it was confirmed by the Metropolitan Health District of San Antonio and faced the true fact.

Then there are the dates that Cruz and I have had a new addition join our pack over the years. All but three of the 18 dogs we have over our 17 years have been rescues.  There also the dates that we have lost one of our many different dogs on over the years. Each one has left us in a different manner, but have left a different kind of hole and memories within our hearts.

February 14th is not just Valentine’s Day in our house. It is also our anniversary and this year we are celebrating our 17th. I could not have asked for a more loving, caring, and patient man to be my husband!!

So, these are my mnemonic methods for keeping my memories alive and well!! This is what is in My Rattled Cage today!!

 While I carry grandma Wanda in my heart and mind every day as there are pictures of her all over our house. On the day that she passed as well as her birthday which is August 10th I always have a flood of different memories come back of her and I when I would go see her in Lamar, Missouri.

This is what is in My Rattled Cage today!!