Tokens - things we leave behind

Dear Diary,

When I travel I take along this little leather scallop shell pouch that carries my mica "tokens".  I got it in France back in 2012.  Before that I carried them in a small zip lock bag.  I pick these mica pieces up around my house.  Maine is full of mica so it is easy to find.  I love its shine, almost like a mirror.  When friends visit and go for hikes they keep a look out for pieces of mica.  There is a little bowl by the door for them to leave them in.

I leave these little tokens at places that are special to me.  I will be taking them on my trip in a few days to leave at the cemeteries and places I visit.  I will leave a part of me behind.  The little pouch clips to my belt loop and over time the mica produces a fine silvery dust...very pretty really.

Making a personal connection of some sort when I travel is very important to me and since this trip has such deep family connections I thought I would bring along my mica tokens.  I've included a photograph my friend took of me leaving one of the little tokens at Mont St. Michel in France in 2012.