I posted this story back in 2011, and thought it was time to read it again. I hope you enjoy it and pray for a blessed 2018 for everyone!
When my parents were first married, my mother became interested in a certain china pattern, Silver Pine. She was hoping to collect enough pieces to have something special for company. Then over the next decade, six children arrived and the few pieces she had collected were stored, and labeled in her mind as "someday...". As my siblings and I became adults, and our parents grew older, we struggled every year with the "what do you get your parents, now that they really don't need anything" problem. One summer a novel idea presented itself during a conversation with my Dad. I asked him just how much my mother had of her "special dinnerware" and together we hatched a plan to really surprise her.
I was an antiques dealer at the time, and had access to auctions, and shows where I could find some pieces to fill in her collection. I contacted all my siblings so everyone could participate. I made a list of things she would need to complete a service for eight, plus serving dishes after my father gave me a list of what she had, and started searching. I ended up finding most of the things on eBay, and since I had several months in which to search, I could patiently search for pristine pieces. By the time Christmas arrived, I had found everything we needed and even some ice tea glasses which matched the dinnerware. All of us chipped in to pay for the things as the plan progressed and we were all excited about the big day.
That Christmas, we gathered at my parent's home, and all of us unloaded our car and piled the boxes on the living room floor. My mother was very curious once she got a look at the pile of wrapped gifts, but we wouldn't let her know who they were for until it came time to open presents, then we made her wait till last. She and Dad sat down on the hearth and after opening the first box, she was speechless and had tears. Box after box was opened and china was laid out on the hearth and you could just feel her excitement! There were enough plates for a service for 12, large and small platters, gravy boats, oval and round serving bowls of different sizes, dessert plates, salad plates, soup bowls, cups and saucers, and of course the ice tea glasses. After everything was opened, she looked at us, saying she just didn't know how to thank us, but the look on her face said it all! We quickly washed the dishes and used them for Christmas dinner and that was the loveliest table and one of the happiest Christmases I remember. Now that both of my parents are no longer with us, it is a very special memory!
Christmas Past
When my parents were first married, my mother became interested in a certain china pattern, Silver Pine. She was hoping to collect enough pieces to have something special for company. Then over the next decade, six children arrived and the few pieces she had collected were stored, and labeled in her mind as "someday...". As my siblings and I became adults, and our parents grew older, we struggled every year with the "what do you get your parents, now that they really don't need anything" problem. One summer a novel idea presented itself during a conversation with my Dad. I asked him just how much my mother had of her "special dinnerware" and together we hatched a plan to really surprise her.
I was an antiques dealer at the time, and had access to auctions, and shows where I could find some pieces to fill in her collection. I contacted all my siblings so everyone could participate. I made a list of things she would need to complete a service for eight, plus serving dishes after my father gave me a list of what she had, and started searching. I ended up finding most of the things on eBay, and since I had several months in which to search, I could patiently search for pristine pieces. By the time Christmas arrived, I had found everything we needed and even some ice tea glasses which matched the dinnerware. All of us chipped in to pay for the things as the plan progressed and we were all excited about the big day.
I hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas and is looking forward to 2012!
Live your life one day at a time!
So touching!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you guys could do such a special thing for Granny! :)
ReplyDelete