Vivid flashes appear as I search frantically through the memory files of my mind.

How old was I again?
I wish I could remember where we buried it.

I don’t recall much except for the fun I had when mom and dad were both at home with us.

Sometimes when I smell cut up apples, my mouth starts to water as my taste buds relive home baked apple pie.
My sister and I always got to sprinkle the finishing touches of cinnamon-sugar on top.
I can almost taste it…

I’m getting sidetracked.
What did we do with that old treasure chest?

Those were some of the best days of my childhood.
I was blissfully unaware of the turmoil the world was in.
I look back and recall camping in the backyard.
Picnics on the front lawn.
I remember dancing with dad in the kitchen.
I got to see my sister all the time.
Mom made us dresses and pink bows for our hair.

So much time spent with my family, just the four of us.

We took a lot of photos and my parents wrote stories on the back of them.
I recall drawing pictures of my feelings.
We made tape recordings of what we were thinking and doing as we expressed how much we love our family and the world.

Mom brought out a big yellow treasure chest.
I now know it was one she had bought at a party store when they were students.

But to me, that treasure chest was the real deal!
My sister and I were in awe.

We carefully put all our crafts, pictures, recordings and a favourite toy inside the chest.
Dad dug a hole in the yard, and we watched with excitement (and a bit of sorrow) as he covered it with sand.
Our very own treasure that nobody knows about!
Something we can dig up when we become adults.
Oh, the suspense of it all!

Years went by and life changed.
Mom and dad went back to work, and my sister and I were in different classes at school.
We didn’t make apple pie that much anymore.
I wished that dad would make us a camp outside again.
Our treasure slowly slipped from our memories as we aged and moved on with life.

Until today when everything changed.

I heard on the news about a pandemic that hit the world.
This time we will be more prepared, they said.
This time we will know what to expect.

I find myself in the backyard, digging and digging.

“Mommy, what are you doing?”

My daughter looks worried as I get closer to the spot where we buried our family treasure almost 23 years ago.

She started digging with me and as I heard her give a shriek, I knew she hit the jackpot!

We lifted the chest from out of the ground and I only realised I was crying when my tears cleared the dirt off the top.

“What’s inside, mommy?”

I look at her sweet face and it dawned on me how scared my parents must have been.

This, my darling, is our to-do-list for the next few months.
I hope you like apple pie.