Presents from the Past

I never received many heirlooms from either of my grandmothers, but in retrospect, I received a few items from my great-uncle Lloyd.  He may not have meant them as heirlooms, but I chose to look at them that way.

Porcelain bowl

The first one I ever received from him was as a wedding present.  It was a light green porcelain bowl that my Great Great Grandma Garfoot (born 1854) had received as a wedding gift. I am the 4th generation to own this piece.  It has a special home in my curio with some of my crystal keepsakes. I still even have the note that he included with it telling me where it was from. (He mentioned in the note that I am to guard it with my life and pass it down)

Antique clock

Great Uncle Lloyd was called the “Clock Meister”.  He loved to fix clocks and in his home in Madison, there were hundreds of them in his workshop ticking the minutes away.  At the top of the hour, the chiming from the multitudes could be deafening.  I never fully appreciated it as a kid spending time at his house during the summer, but hearing clocks chiming now always reminds me of him.  I don’t remember when or why, but Lloyd gave me one of the antique clocks he had repaired and it hangs in my entryway, so it is seen immediately when entering my house.

Crystal Glasses

The last heirloom that I received from Lloyd has become part of my good china dishes.  When I was getting married, I had picked out a china pattern that I loved.  They are gold-trimmed, ivory dishes with little white flowers etched on them.  The crystal that goes with my dishes are faceted also with a gold trim.  A few years after getting married, Lloyd was cleaning the house and gave me a box of crystal glasses.  He informed me that they were from his wedding to my Great Aunt Joan (from Australia).  This box of crystal had survived a fire at his house and he thought I should have them.  When I opened the ashy box, I found crystal glasses that matched my china and crystal.  The glasses were the same shape as mine, but these had little white flowers etched on them, just like my plates.  It’s like it was meant to be.

I don’t know if any of these items will have as much meaning to my kids as they do to me, but I’m hoping that someone will appreciate the significance.  Even though these heirlooms were not handed down in the traditional sense, each one is a reminder that sometimes, the most meaningful treasures are the ones we least expect.

Click here to check out other Sidetracked opinions

Click here to listen to the Sidetracked Legacies podcast

Want to create your own legacy? Join the Sidetracked Sisters and start now!

Ever thought about working with a Life Coach? Are you creative or a writer who is frustrated with your inability to do the work you so desperately feel called to do? Check out Lisa Hoffman Coaching.

#sidetrackedsisters #sidetrackedchelle #sidetrackedlegacies #legacywriting #legacystories #writeyourownlegacy #LisaHoffmanCoaching #familyheirlooms #heirlooms #familytreasures #passitdown