Accessing my Gmail was always a breeze, until one day I was met with a notification that struck fear into my heart: my storage was almost full. Panic set in as I realized I may lose access to the email address that has been with me since high school. It’s seen me through my university years and into my professional life. I’ve come so far with this address – it’s held the key to incredible successes and heartbreaking losses.
As I began the task of deleting emails and clearing out old pictures, I stumbled upon some old conversations. Conversations with my late father. The wave of emotions was overwhelming. Nostalgia flooded my being and my heart ached for a moment in time that could never be restored.
My father always started his emails with “dear children” or “my daughter” and he signed off with “your father.” It was almost as if he knew that his legacy would live on through these digital threads. For the first two years after his passing, these threads brought me to tears as I relived our conversations. Six years later, I’m able to imagine the conversations we would be having. Maybe we’d be discussing my two younger brothers’ university fees, or their latest exam results. Perhaps we’d reminisce about my and his travels and share stories of our latest adventures.
As I sifted through bank statements and exam results for my brothers, I felt my late father’s pride for his girls. It was bittersweet, knowing that all his daughters had grown into strong, independent women. Oh, how proud he would be of the women we’ve become.
Accessing my Gmail has never been the same since that day. It’s not just an inbox, but a treasure trove of cherished memories. Memories that remind me of the importance of staying connected with our loved ones. Memories that help me preserve the legacy of my father, one email thread at a time.