Holiday 2007-8
Dec. 27th, 2007 04:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
helen99After a long week of holiday visiting, first with ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
rialian's parents and then to a party to see friends, some of whom had come from the west coast, I finally visited my younger brother who lives in what was once my parents' home. I felt that I had abandoned him over Christmas, but he seemed satisfied with the fact that we all converged at his house for the holiday, even though it was two days late.
While I was at his house, he told me that he would be getting rid of the coats - my mom's coats to be exact, unless I took them home. I scoured the house for all the coats I could find. I am now the owner of about 20 'new' coats. I guess my mother must have liked coats a bit. They're nice coats, I guess. There are short coats, long coats, light coats, heavy coats, medium coats, down coats, wool coats, and little synthetic windbreakers. I will never be cold again in this lifetime. Among all the coats, I found the One Coat. In 1969 or thereabouts, there was a style of coat called the Maxi Coat. These were usually black but could be any color, and were fitted, floor-length coats. I of course had to have one (so I did). I always loved mine, but had nearly forgotten I owned one, except for a vague memory in the back of my mind. I thought for sure that my mother would have gotten rid of mine, since I didn't use it in nearly forty years. I found it. Mine, all mine. I have my maxi coat. I have no idea if I'll ever wear it, but no matter. I have it with me now, and it fits perfectly.
However,.....
I need a new closet. No, I need a room. Actually, no, maybe a house -- in order to store these coats.
In addition to the coats, I found the remainder of the jewelry she left me. More accurately, my neice found it - apparently she can find things when others can't find them. Among the located items were my mom's cameo pin and her amethyst ring that I had been missing. I knew they were somewhere in the house, but hadn't been able to find them for months, but Kate found them almost immediately.
I also found a few things that I'd forgotten about - a charm bracelet that I'd had as a child that had many unique charms on it, and two heart-shaped lockets, and a little bracelet with my name engraved on it in Greek. These were things I had when I was seven or 8 years old (maybe younger) that my mom had preserved for me over the years. I also found my metronome that I'd had when I took piano at age 10 or so from my Dutch piano teacher Anneke Van Den Berg. I also found an antique toy cash register made of solid metal - they don't make those anymore because, well, the little tykes might hurt themselves on it (god we've pablum-ized life).
These treasures I gathered together, and I brought them home. I do not know where I will put them now. I don't care. They are mine, and with me they will stay.
rialian's parents and then to a party to see friends, some of whom had come from the west coast, I finally visited my younger brother who lives in what was once my parents' home. I felt that I had abandoned him over Christmas, but he seemed satisfied with the fact that we all converged at his house for the holiday, even though it was two days late.While I was at his house, he told me that he would be getting rid of the coats - my mom's coats to be exact, unless I took them home. I scoured the house for all the coats I could find. I am now the owner of about 20 'new' coats. I guess my mother must have liked coats a bit. They're nice coats, I guess. There are short coats, long coats, light coats, heavy coats, medium coats, down coats, wool coats, and little synthetic windbreakers. I will never be cold again in this lifetime. Among all the coats, I found the One Coat. In 1969 or thereabouts, there was a style of coat called the Maxi Coat. These were usually black but could be any color, and were fitted, floor-length coats. I of course had to have one (so I did). I always loved mine, but had nearly forgotten I owned one, except for a vague memory in the back of my mind. I thought for sure that my mother would have gotten rid of mine, since I didn't use it in nearly forty years. I found it. Mine, all mine. I have my maxi coat. I have no idea if I'll ever wear it, but no matter. I have it with me now, and it fits perfectly.
However,.....
I need a new closet. No, I need a room. Actually, no, maybe a house -- in order to store these coats.
In addition to the coats, I found the remainder of the jewelry she left me. More accurately, my neice found it - apparently she can find things when others can't find them. Among the located items were my mom's cameo pin and her amethyst ring that I had been missing. I knew they were somewhere in the house, but hadn't been able to find them for months, but Kate found them almost immediately.
I also found a few things that I'd forgotten about - a charm bracelet that I'd had as a child that had many unique charms on it, and two heart-shaped lockets, and a little bracelet with my name engraved on it in Greek. These were things I had when I was seven or 8 years old (maybe younger) that my mom had preserved for me over the years. I also found my metronome that I'd had when I took piano at age 10 or so from my Dutch piano teacher Anneke Van Den Berg. I also found an antique toy cash register made of solid metal - they don't make those anymore because, well, the little tykes might hurt themselves on it (god we've pablum-ized life).
These treasures I gathered together, and I brought them home. I do not know where I will put them now. I don't care. They are mine, and with me they will stay.