lost things

i have lost a ton of things in my lifetime-
a gold ring with a ruby stone
a pair of silver diamond earrings i treated myself to
a cashmere sweater with small covered buttons
a bible with my initials embossed on the front cover-
all mysteriously disappeared;
left behind in some place probably not secret at all-
inappropriately mishandled by some strange hands
but the memory of some things have lasted longer
than the actual thing itself probably would have;
the memory helps me hold on tighter-
appreciate more.
I have lost a ton of things in my lifetime
but some memories of those things
may last forever.