Family treasures....

I know I've already written once today, but I have to share some excitement from this week. Really it started last week. I got to spend the day with a few friends searching through piles of dishes and antiques from the past at First Monday. We had a blast. One thing I found that day were several dishes from a collection that my mother and Granny had started for me years ago. I was so excited. Mixed in with all these cast offs of dishes from other people's lives were a few pastel saucers and cups. When I saw them I knew they were part of these old rare dishes, LuRay, that my mother had started for me. I bargained with the older man for the cups and saucers and as I was told by another dealer down the road, "I stole them" for the price I paid. This other man was not near as generous in coming down off his prices. I left that day with 4 new cups, 1 saucer, and 4 new plates for my collection. I was so excited.

My friends teased me that I could probably find all I wanted of these dishes on eBay. I had never even looked on eBay before. I thought surely they were mistaken. These rare, antique dishes, if they could be found on eBay would surely be too expensive for me to even think of buying. I was so wrong. I am so addicted to bidding now on these dishes that give me a glimpse in to the past and make me feel a little connected to my grandmother. I have won several bids and should be getting my new prizes this week. I have gladly spent my birthday money adding to my collection.

Yesterday, while at my parents house for my birthday lunch, we began discussing my treasures. Mom reminded me of how the collection was started. My grandmother had given me the few flower plates and saucers that she had. My mother had started finding the pastel, antique dishes in estate sales for me to use with Granny's dishes. It was one of the many things they both did to add to my "hope chest" when I was a teenager.

When I first married, we received many gifts of dishes to begin our new life together and my antique dishes were boxed up and stored for when we would have room to display them. Then Mom and Dad moved and they were boxed and stored in the attic. A few years back, my dad found a box of dishes and brought them to me. I was so excited to have them again. However I knew it could not be all of them. I remembered a much larger collection, but my dad assured me that that was all he had found. So, I began my treasure hunting. Anytime I could find a piece here or there, I would buy it if possible.

Then yesterday, while telling my mom about my treasure hunting and bidding on eBay, she reminded me again that we had a larger collection somewhere in the attic. She was sure of it. So, to the boxes Dad and I went. It didn't take long to find his neatly stacked and labeled RubberMaid containers with my name on them. Inside one of them was a large box with "Denise's dishes" written on it. On the side....LuRay was written. It was such a reward. Such a wonderful gift. It was as if my grandmother was giving them to me all over again. Her plates and the ones my mother had collected, filled the box. My collection grew greatly yesterday. Platters, plates, bowels, saucers, cups, and other speciality pieces. Such a collection! I know what I paid for the few pieces I have bought in the last two weeks. I could make quite a bit of money with the collection I now have, though it would not by any means make me rich. However, the value is not in the dishes for me, but in the memory of my grandmother. Even to many others, these dishes would not mean much. They really are not any thing special to look at. Simple pastel colors and simple design, simple dishes.

I've often been compared to my Granny by my dad....and my mom. Strong willed, opinionated, fiercely loyal, protective and a bit hot headed, expect things to be done as we desire, and believe we are to be respected. Okay, I see the resemblance. I also know we are both simple people who love others and love our family. We are huggers. We don't expect to ever be rich or to be popular, but we desire to be loved.

Even though my Granny has been gone for over 23 years, she is still a part of me. Her dishes were a simple reminder of who she was, but they also remind me of who I am. I will continue to search for more to add to my collection. With each one's simple beauty, I will remember the simple woman my grandmother was. I will remember the strong but delicate woman who loved powerfully and who always let you know that you were everything to her. What a gift she gave me again. It was a great birthday!