My mother recently gave me her set of silver plated cutlery. She has had this set since she was in the Philippines ??? Instead of waiting to bequeath it to me in her will, she gave it to me early partly to make sure it doesn't get lost in her move from one house to another, and partly (I believe) to see me and my family incorporate the pieces in my home. It was an important moment in my life to open the wooden chest and discover all the pieces that she has held on to all these years. The design on the handles is quite elaborate for my taste. I prefer simple clean lines on my eating utensils, but I felt honored to be able to pull these same pieces out that my mother used every Christmas, Thanksgiving, or other gatherings at her home.
Now, fast-forward 30 years: I will be my mom's age (hopefully). Will my Stags appreciate or even use this same silverware from their grandmother passed down to their mother passed down to them? Silver serving/eating utensils are not the type of thing stags spend time thinking about. Will it end up in a yard sale or ebay auction?
This brings to mind the items people keep to remember/think of someone. I have an Our Lady of Guadalupe pendant from my Grandma Luz. I also still have my wedding gown she made. I will never wear it again, but I just can't seem to part with it. My friend Mary Anne gave me a gold Nefertiti pendant that reminds me of her each and every time I see it... because she IS such a goddess. My friend Carla gave me a journal that reflects so much of her playful personality, it's not possible to see it without thinking of her.
Who knows what my boys will keep for themselves to remember me after I'm gone. Will it be my artwork? My jewelry? Or will they be non-material items? I hope their wives will keep and safeguard a few of my items for the next generation, for my grandchildren, as I tried to do for John's and my mother.
John did keep a few of his mother's things after she passed away. We have 2 framed silk screens from Thailand, a pearl brooch from India, a hand painted fan from Italy, and... of all things... a silver plated water pitcher. What do you know. Stags do appreciate silver ware.
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