Heirlooms
The writing prompt for week 8 is "Heirloom", and I'm finding this to be a bit of a challenge. (Are you sensing a theme here? It seems like a lot of these writing prompts are challenging!) It's not a difficult subject because I don't own any heirlooms ... rather it's a difficult subject because I have so many things, and they each are things I consider heirlooms.
Perhaps it is because I am a self-appointed family historian. Perhaps it is because I tend to be rather sentimental. But I tend to hold onto family items that feel to me as if they just ooze history. Some are simple everyday items. Some are special because of the events they are tied to. Some are special because I love them and the memories connected to them, even if they are more recent than "historical". They are all things that bring me a quiet joy, just because of their existence in my life.
For instance, in the category of simple everyday items, I have these things.
The doll belonged to my Grandmother, May Elizabeth (Lewis) Nelson. There is a note pinned to her cape, written by my Grandmother, that gives her age as 9, which would have been 1931. The doll is fragile, worn, and well-loved. The suspenders on the bottom left belonged to my great-great Grandfather, Burrell Scales Lewis (1855-1924). The glasses, on the bottom right, belonged to Burrell's wife, my great-great Grandmother, Mary Elizabeth (Arthur) Lewis (1860-1936). You can see her wearing them in the photo below.
None of these items have any likely monetary value, but they are special to me, because they are a link to my past and the people who came before me. To a genealogist, that is a precious commodity.
Some items that are special to me because of the memories they hold include a variety of things, including my Mother's paintings. I remember her painting when I was a young child, and the pleasure she took in creating them. Most of her paintings were scenic, like the ones below.
I also have a painting she created, however, that is a portrait of my great-Grandmother on her wedding day in 1900. That painting has a story all its own ... my Mother had the portrait nearly completed and was letting it dry when my brother came up and put his hand right in the middle of the wet paint. Mama managed to repair the mess, and all that remains now is the portrait and the tale of near-disaster.
The special event heirlooms are safely tucked away. I sometimes wish I had three dressmakers mannequins and a place to display them, because among my treasured possessions I have three wedding dresses. My Grandmother's, my Mother's, and my own.
My Grandmother's navy blue dress was given to her by her older sister, and she wore it with a small white jacket. My Mother's dress was made by my Grandmother. I made my own wedding dress. All three of them are incredibly special to me because they are the embodiment of the hopes and dreams of the women of my family.
There are so many other things that I have and love ... a double strand of pearls that belonged to one of my great-Grandmothers. A ruby ring given to me by my Grandmother when I married, that she believes was her Mother's engagement ring. A stoneware bowl that a great-Grandmother used to make bread dough in. So many memories seem to live on in these items, and they are treasured, every one.
Perhaps it is because I am a self-appointed family historian. Perhaps it is because I tend to be rather sentimental. But I tend to hold onto family items that feel to me as if they just ooze history. Some are simple everyday items. Some are special because of the events they are tied to. Some are special because I love them and the memories connected to them, even if they are more recent than "historical". They are all things that bring me a quiet joy, just because of their existence in my life.
For instance, in the category of simple everyday items, I have these things.
The doll belonged to my Grandmother, May Elizabeth (Lewis) Nelson. There is a note pinned to her cape, written by my Grandmother, that gives her age as 9, which would have been 1931. The doll is fragile, worn, and well-loved. The suspenders on the bottom left belonged to my great-great Grandfather, Burrell Scales Lewis (1855-1924). The glasses, on the bottom right, belonged to Burrell's wife, my great-great Grandmother, Mary Elizabeth (Arthur) Lewis (1860-1936). You can see her wearing them in the photo below.
Some items that are special to me because of the memories they hold include a variety of things, including my Mother's paintings. I remember her painting when I was a young child, and the pleasure she took in creating them. Most of her paintings were scenic, like the ones below.
I also have a painting she created, however, that is a portrait of my great-Grandmother on her wedding day in 1900. That painting has a story all its own ... my Mother had the portrait nearly completed and was letting it dry when my brother came up and put his hand right in the middle of the wet paint. Mama managed to repair the mess, and all that remains now is the portrait and the tale of near-disaster.
The special event heirlooms are safely tucked away. I sometimes wish I had three dressmakers mannequins and a place to display them, because among my treasured possessions I have three wedding dresses. My Grandmother's, my Mother's, and my own.
My Grandmother's navy blue dress was given to her by her older sister, and she wore it with a small white jacket. My Mother's dress was made by my Grandmother. I made my own wedding dress. All three of them are incredibly special to me because they are the embodiment of the hopes and dreams of the women of my family.
There are so many other things that I have and love ... a double strand of pearls that belonged to one of my great-Grandmothers. A ruby ring given to me by my Grandmother when I married, that she believes was her Mother's engagement ring. A stoneware bowl that a great-Grandmother used to make bread dough in. So many memories seem to live on in these items, and they are treasured, every one.
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