Dear Readers,While going through a box of old stuff the other day, I made a discovery that made me sit back and blink.....
When I was a little girl, there was not a lot of disposable income floating around in my life.
Not that there is now, but you get the picture.
One day when I want to manipulate you into really feeling sorry for me, I will tell you a story about my baby tooth and a recorder -- not a tape recorder...the wooden wannabe flutes that kids in grade school used to learn to play -- that will make you so sorry for me that you will send me tear-stained cash in the mail.
In other words, things (objects, toys, treats) meant a lot to me.
My Aunt Jeannette gave me, when I was about ten, a small bottle of Avon peach cologne. The screw top of the bottle was in the shape of a peach and the scent was light and girly. I loved it.
No, you don't get it. I really loved it. So much so that I hardly used it--dispensing drop by tiny drop to my prepubescent pulse points only on special occasions because I didn't want to waste it.
How many special occasions does a ten year old have?
Guess what I found when going through the box? Yep, the bottle of peach cologne. The glass of the bottle had turned yellow and the liquid had become powder. And, ironically, while prancing over to show Seth, I dropped it and it shattered--it's ancient plastic peach screw top breaking into pieces at my feet.
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In the same box was something else I'd loved wildly and saved only for special occasions. It was a pad of Snoopy stickers. They also were so special that I never used them. All were there except for two. I would love to know what I deemed that special to have used them twice.
Wait, there's a little more pontificating before I get to my point...
Since the boys were little, I used to decorate our kitchen by draping seasonal lights around the window: tiny pumpkins for Halloween, snowmen for Christmas, Easter eggs and shamrocks in the spring. They made the room really festive and I think the boys enjoyed them. Now I have silvery stars draped around the same window.
I only plug them in for special occasions....if company is coming, if the kids are visiting, if Seth can remain awake past seven-thirty. That sort of thing.
Why?
Are Seth and I not worth the pleasure of an inexpensive string of lights adding a nice touch to one of our cut throat cribbage games? So what if the tiny bulbs burn out?
I read the newspapers. What is life if not a special occasion these days?
So, my friends, wear your peach cologne, use your Snoopy stickers and, for the love of all that's holy, plug in the stars.
Got it? Now go do it.
Love, Me
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| The stars are plugged in. |
I agree 100%. Use the good china, wear what you want when you want. Life is short.
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
Thank you so much, Michele. I hope I can follow my own advice on this one.
ReplyDeleteGood for you!!
ReplyDeleteI remember many years ago when I was first on the internet one of those emails going around about a woman who was going through her mother's belongings after death and finding some really nice things all wrapped up that were never used. The moral of the email was very similar to your post. I never did forget it (as someone who also holds on to things for "special occasions") and I try to keep that in mind. Thank you for the reminder.
Hey, Connie. It will be as easy to do as I hope. It's an ingrained personality trait for many of us...but I am going to try very hard to keep those darn stars plugged in. You, too!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the nice comment.
Great post! Truly inspiring! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Anna!
ReplyDeleteI was like that as a kid too. We only got clothes and toys on Christmas and birthdays, so I was always extra careful with the small amount I had. Now that I'm a mom, I want to buy crazy amounts of toys for my daughter but have to hold myself back. While giving her the exact opposite of what I had might be fun, in the end, I learned responsibility. I learned that things that are important to you (toys really are some of the most important things to a kid) are worth taking care of. And I'm trying to instill that notion in my daughter. I hope I can.
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