I love this post about the power of objects to evoke memory. A few years ago when my parents downsized my mother gave me their wedding china. I have a tiny apartment and no space for two sets of dishes, so I donated what I had before, and now I use my parents' wedding china as my everyday dishes. It's a daily reminder of the love my parents have for each other and for our family.
How timely. I read this just after bringing home the repaired lower half of my grandmother's butter dish, which got knocked out of its refrigerator door nook last month and broke into three pieces. I took it to the town jeweler who had done other repairs for us. "It's scuffed and chipped and beat up, I know it won't look like new, but wabi-sabi, it's Gammie's butter dish and I have to try to make it whole again." They did a lovely job. How old is it? Found online: Vernon Kilns, produced 1938-42. The butter tray with cover is a sky blue called Aster. https://www.maximalist.org/colorware/vernon-kilns/ultra-california/
Thank you, Adam! And I love your story! Is something missing in the middle? "Aunt Liz was sweet and smart and almost comically soft spoken, but she also had a wicked…"
I've got the Victorian furniture that was in my bedroom when I was growing up. I'm sure it came from someone else in the family before it got to me. I refinished it years ago, and now it's in the guestroom in my house. I'll take that over IKEA any time.
Yes, Flower Child, it seems we need to appreciate our "materialness" for memory and emotion. It may be a deep biological drive. Witness the bowerbird accumulating shiny objects, which may be for the purpose of attracting a mate, but I bet the "intended" gets at least a little sentimental because the "curator" did such a good job of collecting! (Aww shucks, for moi?)
I love this post about the power of objects to evoke memory. A few years ago when my parents downsized my mother gave me their wedding china. I have a tiny apartment and no space for two sets of dishes, so I donated what I had before, and now I use my parents' wedding china as my everyday dishes. It's a daily reminder of the love my parents have for each other and for our family.
Thank you, Rebekah! And I love that you're using the wedding china every day — much better than keeping it stored and unused. ❤️
Agreed! Why can't every day be special enough for wedding china?!
What a sweet memory. I’m so happy you got the lamp!
Thank you, Tara! Me too.
How timely. I read this just after bringing home the repaired lower half of my grandmother's butter dish, which got knocked out of its refrigerator door nook last month and broke into three pieces. I took it to the town jeweler who had done other repairs for us. "It's scuffed and chipped and beat up, I know it won't look like new, but wabi-sabi, it's Gammie's butter dish and I have to try to make it whole again." They did a lovely job. How old is it? Found online: Vernon Kilns, produced 1938-42. The butter tray with cover is a sky blue called Aster. https://www.maximalist.org/colorware/vernon-kilns/ultra-california/
How cool, Kristi! Those pieces look beautiful. And my husband recently learned about wabi sabi and is obsessed. 😀
Beautiful piece as always, Rosana!
A few years ago I wrote about, of all things, a Post-It note written by my Aunt Liz: https://medium.com/the-memoirist/strange-artifacts-of-those-we-love-669faa916fff?sk=2bcd9433a8b895af8f9c208933a0e803
Thank you, Adam! And I love your story! Is something missing in the middle? "Aunt Liz was sweet and smart and almost comically soft spoken, but she also had a wicked…"
I hope the memory care unit is really positive for her, and I'm glad she's left so many memories in you.
Thanks, and that's a great way of thinking of the theme of memory! ❤️
I've got the Victorian furniture that was in my bedroom when I was growing up. I'm sure it came from someone else in the family before it got to me. I refinished it years ago, and now it's in the guestroom in my house. I'll take that over IKEA any time.
Yes, Flower Child, it seems we need to appreciate our "materialness" for memory and emotion. It may be a deep biological drive. Witness the bowerbird accumulating shiny objects, which may be for the purpose of attracting a mate, but I bet the "intended" gets at least a little sentimental because the "curator" did such a good job of collecting! (Aww shucks, for moi?)