Backstory
There’s a beautiful stained-glass butterfly hanging in my office window. I enjoy its vivid colors and romantic aura every day. It occurred to me that after I go, and the baubles go to an heir, they will have no idea where it came from or what it meant to me. The thought inspired this story.
Nanny Wrote It Down
My grandmother used to write it down. When it happened, where it came from, who gave it to her. We used to laugh that the boxes in her dresser drawers all told who a gift was from, what she felt when she received it, and when it was given.
Statues and vases had their little labels on the bottom telling their mini-story. The events of the day scribbled on used envelopes and stuck between the pages of the family bible.
Well, long after Nanny wasn’t with us anymore, those messages were an important source of knowing who my grandmother was and what was important to her.
With computers transmitting so many of our messages today I wonder if we’ll lose those important insights shared in handwritten letters or labels on the bottoms of vases. I hope we don’t.
Maybe I’ll just go write something on the bottom of a vase, so my kids will know why I wrote about this very thing today for you to hear.
Maybe you’ll be moved to do the same thing!
P.S. It’s probably more likely that I will leave behind records of my thoughts and emotions, rather than labels on my relics. If my heirs listen to a dozen or so of the hundreds of Consider This stories, they may get a good idea of the ideas that bubble up in my head, rather than the things that go through my fingers. Yep, that would be more significant, I think.
[Show #168]
I am fortunate that my Mother and my Aunt both labeled their treasures. And I inherited the habit. Also if a family member or friend would like to have an item she would mark that on the bottom or put a note inside.
Good additional idea, Diane. More likely that chosen item will reach the right person if the name is on the item rather than on a list somewhere.
This is such a sweet idea. I wish my elders had thought to do this. I often wonder if someone will love some object the way I have as sometimes the meaning is specific to me. I think this contributed to the “you” of today which is beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
So enjoying our message exchanges, Donna.
Wish I could also hear your voice weekly, like you hear mine.
I keep meaning to do this thanks for the reminder
Susie – Here’s an additional good idea in a response from another reader – “Also if a family member or friend would like to have an item she would mark that on the bottom or put a note inside.” Hope you can remember both.