Paper Chains

Recalling many paper chain experiences makes me smile.  It's amazing how engaged a group can become when linking strips of brightly colored construction paper together with glue.  During my volunteer years at Texas Children's Hospital, we sometimes saw competitiveness as children raced to construct the longest chain.  Other times, we saw collaboration, as the evening's group of children decided to join forces and see how long the chain could become with everyone working together.  On one of our family's 550 mile road trips to Arkansas years ago, our backseat paper chain construction made the miles more joyful and quick.  And at last year's Sterling Bank family picnic following the March of Dimes walk, an eager group of children and adults quickly assembled a crowd-pleasing length.

Though the paper chain structure is temporary, the paper chain memories remain.