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I’m not always practical, but I think that my practical side tends to come out about household items. Because of this, when we registered for our wedding about a million years ago, we didn’t register for china or silverware. We registered for Corelle sets that would have all we needed in one box and sets of flatware. This is not to say that I didn’t think I would like to have some of those things one day, it just didn’t seem appropriate when we didn’t have any of our own things to start a new home.
In April of this year, we went to visit my Grandparents, since I thought it would make a fun solo trip for the kids and I, plus my Grandma requested that we come see them. She pushed me more for what I wanted from her when she died while I was there, and made frequent requests during that visit (and on the phone afterward) that we come again soon.
After years of telling her that I didn’t know what I wanted (just that I wanted her to live forever), we finally talked about her dining room table. A few days later (when I was gone, but my parents were still there), she said her hutch was a matching set, and I should have that too. Thinking only of what my Mom has in her hutch, I joked to my Mom, “And maybe one day I’ll be a grown up, and actually have china to put in it.” My Mom laughed and said it to my Grandma.
Though we didn’t really grasp just how readily she was preparing for the end of her life (though I think she knew it exactly), she quickly said that they would pack up her china and my Mom could bring it home to me. I washed it all by hand when I got it home, rearranged my kitchen, and I found places to put it in a cabinet. And that’s where it sat from mid April until the end of August.
It was the last day of August, thinking of my Grandma (as I frequently do, since her passing the day after Mother’s Day), that I pulled out four china plates. The same china plates that I had eaten on for so many holiday meals. Plates that over the years have held the culinary delights of my family.
I put macaroni and cheese on those plates, and I set them in front of my children.
“Wow!” Jack exclaimed with the joy of Christmas morning. “Why are we using these fancy plates?”
I said, “I don’t know, Jack. Maybe it’s because they’re pretty. Maybe because it’s Tuesday. Maybe it’s because today…we’re alive.”
“I know,” he said, “I think it’s because we’re celebrating the last day of August.”
“Yeah, maybe,” I answered back.
Or, maybe, I thought, it’s just because I’m trying hard to find the little joys in life that I keep overlooking. And, with that, I sat down to my suddenly fancy macaroni and cheese.
This post is linked to Finer Things Friday.
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It’s really not fair making somebody cry when they just sat down to read a blog post or two. 😉 (((Hugs))) Just today, the kids and I were talking about how much we miss my grandmother, too.
That’s such a sweet story, Angie. Good for you – too often we put those kinds of things away for “special occasions” and then never get them out. So much better to have memories every day.
Those are GORGEOUS plates and I’m so proud of you for pulling them out and using them. I have a set of my grandma’s china that she left me when she died and I rarely use them… but you’ve inspired me.
I read somewhere that using the china honors your grandmother and shows your children that they are special too. Good for you!
@scrapper al,
What a nice sentiment! I’ll have to remember that!
My mom told me of a great friend of hers that invited her over or lunch one day. She had her finest china out and my mom was surprised, asking what the occasion was and if anyone else was coming. Her friend simply said that getting together they were celebrating their friendship and that made made it a special occasion. I really think this is a great idea. Though, not one I will try with my kids for a few years. (We have Correlle now… after the kids broke at least one piece of 3 different sets of everyday china. heh.)
I hope you have an idea of how much I needed this post today, Angie. Thank you very much, and I hope you’ll enjoy many more suddenly fancy lunches, and the memories that flow with them.
That was a beautiful post. I never got china either. One day maybe I will, and hopefully I’ll also have a beautiful hutch to put it all in. Your grandma sounds like she was a such a special part of your life, and it’s wonderful that you can remember her through all the memories with her china.
And simply celebrating life because we’re merely just alive is a dang good reason to bust out the china if I must say 🙂
What a wonderful post!
I still have the dishes grandma gave me in boxes downstairs. I think tomorrow I will pull them out and use them for our “fancy” lunches from time to time.
I love you sister, and I am so happy that you received grandma’s china. She wanted you to have it, and I am betting that it is for days such as these that it was intended for you to enjoy those dishes.
Sister~ Very touching!!! I do so love to read your words.
Oddly, I didn’t cry… until I saw the picture of that mac ‘n’ cheese on those beautiful memory filled plates.
I, too, am glad that you got the china! I do have to say I’m a bit envious of the fact that I am the only sister that did not get dishes to have fancy lunches on….. next time I make it to your place, for SURE we use the china!
love you! xoxoxox
@Erin Kischer,
If you come visit, I would make you every meal on the china. (And I wouldn’t even make you eat Macaroni and Cheese. Though, I could make you Spaghetti-O’s with Franks, since you like them. LOL)
It was really a fluke that I got the china, as you read. I think that Grandma was quick to give away things right at the end and I made a joke at just the right moment, I suppose.
I just have to keep reminding myself to use them. Maybe I’ll have to have a tea party with the kids sometime, just so we have an excuse to use some of the lesser used pieces.
Hey…know what? If you girls all came to visit, we could have a tea party with no tea (blech), but scones and fancy things, and china, of course.