Memaw’s China

My Memaw’s china…as a little girl I was allowed to touch it with one finger…as I got older I was allowed to take it from the china cabinet piece by piece and dust it. It was her most prized possession and probably the most expensive thing she owned.

My Uncle Jim sent her the set when he was serving his country in Vietnam. She saved it for a special occasion that never came. I eventually inherited this beautiful, unused china.

I had never owned nice dishes and was terrified of breaking one. I kept them hidden in a cabinet, all alone and seldom touched. I had the pleasure of entertaining by nephew Rett, who was two years old at the time, and he accidently found the cabinet where I had stashed the unused china. Needless to say, when I found Rett and the china, he was having a grand time, throwing himself a little tea party and one of the tea cups were shattered. As I sat there looking at what was before me on the ceramic tile I couldn’t help but think about my Memaw. About how much she would have loved to witness her great grandchild having a tea party with her most treasured dishes. And how she would have gently set the cracked cup aside and kissed him on the forehead and redirected him elsewhere.

My sister was horrified by the accident and in an effort to replace the broken teacup, she found an exceptional deal on the internet of on eight place settings which I received very soon after. What my sister did not know, was that Rett had given me a gift. The gift of knowing the importance of using the china, enjoying it, embracing it.

I made a vow to use the china. Every time I pull out the china, I get teary eyed with fond memories of Memaw and wishing I could share a meal with her just one more time-on the china. My thought for this day- pull out the china. The special time is now. The days you get to spend with those you love the most are the best of days. Live in the moment. And enjoy every second of It.