This picture crossed my FB page not too long ago and it threw me back in time. My parents bought their first, and only home in December 1960. My Grandmother bought me a bedroom set when we moved in. She made curtains with a poodle border. We had an old console cabinet around from a TV and Grandmother used the leftover fabric and covered that cabinet to create a vanity for me. I can see it in my mind. When it was done, mom took me to the Plaid Stamp Store and we got this same trash can by trading in books of stamps. I still remember where that stamp store was.

I was so proud of my room. It was the nicest thing I ever had my entire childhood. One summer night, my dad tapped on the door of my room and stuck his head in.

“Sis, you got any trash? I’m burnin’.”

I dutifully handed him my beautiful trash can. That’s the last time I saw that perky poodle. Dad came in a couple hours later, looking sheepish as he handed me this gunship gray trash can. Seems he had dropped it in the fire and it burned the paint right off it. I was so sad.

Grandmother was a talented seamstress. She made quilts. She also made round pillows out of narrow wale corduroy. The edges were smocked and there was a large fabric covered button the the center of both sides covering where the fabric was gathered. I think she used to sell them to folks.

She rented the bottom level of a great big old house. It was always dark and cool in there and smelled of incense and mothballs. She had a small ladies sewing rocker. There was a rollaway bed in the spare closet for my sleepovers. She used to make Easter Bunny cakes every year. She worked as a cake decorator at the local bakery. She hid a bottle of whiskey behind the vacuum cleaner. She used Parkay in sticks. She made me drink sage tea as a “tonic”. I thought she was trying to kill me. She didn’t drive, but she was thrilled when mom got her driver’s license when I turned six and started to school. She went with us to our first drive-in movie. Gunfight at the OK Corral. She made the very best chicken and dumplings….EVER!

Isn’t it funny how one little thing can fill you with memories? I never felt particularly close to her. But sweet memories can make sour ones fade to insignificance. I was talking with a friend Saturday night about sending love and light when we remember past hurts. This allows the good memories (when there are any) to well up in their place. I am grateful for that tool. It helps you rewrite history.

❤️

“Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold: for there is none end of the store and glory out of all the pleasant furniture.”

Nahum 2:9 KJV