Now Where Did I Put That?

The aches and pains of aging are one thing.  I expect that.

Short term memory loss is another.  I expect that too.

However,

Planned Forgetting requires some immediate attention.

Have you ever looked around for a foolproof hiding place for your special treasures?

Well, that’s what I was going about doing.

Where could I hide my favorite locket?

• How about the freezer?  No, that’s old-hat.
• Hide it in one of those mini boxes with secret ways to open?  Nope. Probably well known to marauders.
• In the back of a desk file drawer?  Not there either – thieves would probably look there first.
• In a shoe box with some shoes.  No, No, No!
• Finally there it was – the perfect spot.  “I WILL remember this place! I MUST remember!”

You can see where this is going.  I was consciously, knowingly planning to forget and stored the locket in the pocket of a favorite off-season jacket.

And of course I did forget  both the locket and the jacket.

Weeks later I wanted to wear the locket but where was it?

I looked in the mini treasure box, the desk drawer, the files in the desk drawer, the freezer, all the logical storage spots, and every box of shoes (including Bill’s).  This took hours of emptying and reassembling drawers, thinking and thinking, retracing steps.

“It’s no big deal,” I thought, “How important are such things in life anyway?”

But it wasn’t the loss that was so frustrating, it was the fact that I could not remember where I put it, that I knew I would not remember where I put it, and my own prophecy had come true.

Finally on the verge of tears, I tried one last place.

“It must be in a pocket! My mother always hid things in pockets!”  That meant going through the pockets of all the slacks, tops and vests in the closet, and finally the jackets.  Touching the last jacket I knew the locket had to be there.

And there it was!

And that is the essence of “Planned Forgetting!”

If you are a robber and want my pretty locket, well, come and get it!

It’s will now forever reside in an old fashioned junk jewelry box in plain sight.

Hopefully I will not forget I didn’t plan to forget another hiding place and then forget that it is in the jewelry box right under my nose.

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You Light Up My Life!

“Happy Birthday Grammy!  We have something for you.”

That was the message from my grandgirls this birthday month.  Kendall and Mackenzie, our two girls in Virginia, met up with us for a celebratory dinner, when they gave me a sweet smelling Happy Birthday candle.  I have since learned it was also from the missing grandgirl, Jess, who is in school in Michigan.

Have you ever heard of a Bella j candle?

They said, “Just burn it Grammy and you may uncover a diamond worth $10,000!”

“Oh, o.k,” I replied.  “And I will split the proceeds!”

I dutifuly burned my candle every night for three nights and enjoyed watching the dancing flame and the peek-a-boo sightings of emerging foil.  My excitement grew and finally, there it was – the package I hoped would hold a bonanza!

Bill said, “It’s too small to hold $10,000.”

“Maybe it’s a check though,” I said, “or a real diamond?”  Hope prevailed.

Following instructions I extinguished the flame, waited for the candle to cool, and carefully removed the foil packet to be opened with extreme care.

Of course, it isn’t a diamond or a check, but is a tiny bracelet with a sweet little glowingly gold charm.

And I love it!  Thank you GrandGirls.  The candle is a lovely gift, the charm is a “keeper” and you (all three of you) always light up my life!

 

 

The Prize! Learn more at http://bellaj.com

 

 

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Succumbing to Temptation

I hate to admit it but I love to shop.  And even when the trend in my family and among friends is to stop the gift giving mania, I still operate as if I am on a diligent search for the elusive perfect gift.

This week I went to Clifton Forge and was smitten with the local Arts and Crafts Center.  Some of you have asked, “What did you buy?”

Art Deco Shiny Pin for Dor

Well, I kept things under some control of course and bought the perfect gift of a stunning bejeweled pin, but wound up giving it to myself!

Then I saw the perfect gift (just for love) for Bill – a Four Way Screwdriver that sounds pretty mundane but the handle is of handcarved wood, and the tool actually does convert to four different size “heads” (I think that’s what you call them).   Bill seemed to like it a lot and it now has an honored place in a kitchen drawer to be used for those I-need-a-Phillipshead-moments.

Four Way Screwdriver With a Handcarved Wood Handle

Art Glass Nail File in a Velvet Pouch

Finally, even though this last item was not made locally, I knew it would bring me great joy.  You see, I had bought a tiny purse size version of  the Art Glass Nail File some time ago and loved it.  Always regretted not getting the standard size.  These files are produced in the famous Bohemian glass region of the Czech Republic and should last a lifetime with proper care (don’t drop it on a tile floor!).  They are also supposed to be good for your nails too and are beautiful to look at (the files, not my nails).

I’m ready to go back to the Alleghany Highlands Arts and Crafts Center in Clifton Forge.

It is the perfect place for dreaming, shopping, buying, and maybe finding the perfect gift.

 

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The Language of Love with no Translation

Grandma’s Necklace

My blogger friend, Barbara, of Silver in the Barn, is doing a series of wonderful posts for a collection of her family history. Read anything of Barbara’s and I promise you will be hooked!

Although I know sadly little of my own family, Barbara has inspired me to revisit a story about a special necklace.

My grandmother (Bertha) on my mother’s side was from Germany.  And although my grandparents immigrated from Germany to America and Bernard learned the language, Bertha never did.

She grew up in a village in the Black Forest called Waldsee which means Forest by the Lake.

There in the village she met my grandfather Bernard, who was visiting from Holland.  They married and had two children; a son, Ludwig, and my mother, Ida (and later, in America, another son, Carl).

Bernard left his young family in Germany to make a life in America and as soon as he “found his feet” and was able to support them, he sent for his wife and children.  As the story goes, my mom was a year old when she and her mother and older brother, made their way from Europe in a tough ocean journey to New Jersey, U.S.A.

Bertha and Bernard

I never really knew Grandma Bertha because she died when I was five or six years old.

Grandma came to live with us for a while in Florida.  How fascinated I was by the big lady in the wheelchair who sat at her bedroom window admiring sunshine and blue skies and smiling happily at a little girl she so adored.

Constrained by the fact that Grandma did not speak English,  I recall feeling awed over a perceived hugely personal connection that spanned generations and ignored language barriers.  It was all beyond the comprehension of a mere child.

But one day that feeling of being cherished was forever sealed with a beautiful necklace!  That same necklace and the overwhelming feelings follow me even now, when I have  grandchildren of my own.

How surprised I was when my Grandma reached into her bag and took out a beautiful shining thing!

She smiled and folded my two little hands around a sparkling necklace, and then I felt  her own big warm hands enfolding mine.   And with that, she looked into my eyes and nodded her head up and down, as if to say, “This is for you, my love.  This is for you.”  And she kissed the top of my head.

I immediately knew the necklace was a most precious gift!

My heart was about to burst with pride.

Gandma trusted me with this hugely important thing.

And I vowed with the fervor of a child never to lose it,

to keep it safe in some secret place,

and though I did not quite understand it,

 to cherish it as a symbol of an overflowing love.

A jeweler told me the necklace has no monetary value.  It is only costume jewelry with onyx stones.  But as a little girl I thought it was priceless, and must have been one of Grandma’s most treasured possessions.  Now, as an adult, I still think it is priceless and it is among my most treasured possessions.

And just as I originally vowed, it is always kept in a safe and secret place.  I wore it once to a dance and felt as beautiful as Grandma must have been when she wore it so many years before.

I remember how the lady I never really knew tried in German to tell me how she felt.  But it was the necklace and her holding my hands together around it that made me truly understand the meaning of love.

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To Lock Your Pockets

There is a special outdoor shopping center in Sedona, Arizona called Tlaquepaque (pronounced Teh-Loch-ah-Pahkey).   I do not know what it means, but one of the resident artists  said I should call it “To Lock Your Pockets” or prepare to spend a lot of money!

Built in 1971, this entrancing art/shopping center features amazing outdoor bronze statuary, delightful restaurants and cafes,  lovely shops and galleries, and the most beautiful jewelry imaginable.  There are more than 40 shops set among graceful arches, dancing fountains, tranquil plazas and shady verandas.  And there are four courtyards to explore with flowers and greenery, iron railings, hand painted tiles, surprise niches, and places to sit and ponder.

A Boy Takes Wing

This little guy kept running back to the bird statue even though his Mom was calling him to leave it.  He was obviously enchanted.

I kept running back to this horse!

Bill and I and my brother and sister-in-law ambled around  admiring the bronze statuary and stopped at a wonderful little cafe for lunch.  In the end (locked pockets or not) we could not resist the shops.  I spotted exquisite handmade copper pendants, bracelets of Peruvian opals, smooth hand honed wooden treasures, stained glass in every variety and size,  and art – always art.

Artists make this place a true haven for discovering one-of-a-kinds.   Two of a kind work well too.  Viv  and I both found the same wonderfully soft eternity scarves.  According to the sales staff, we will always be “put together” because no matter how we throw them on they will look casually elegant.  If I send a photo you must let me know if this is actually true.

But if you are ever in Sedona plan to visit Tlaquepaque if only for a charming stroll or simply to sit in the shade if you think you can resist the shops full of wondrous things.

And of course,  enter those shops at your own risk and remember to “lock your pockets.”

 

 

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A Cool Holiday Gift Place

Last weekend I stopped by one of my favorite “good-for-you” organic healthy food stuff markets.  It’s called Cool Spring Organics.

Even though I picked up a few food items that are guaranteed to extend my life by at least 15 minutes, I noticed something fun off to the right.  Could it be a Christmas Shop?  Yes!

And who could resist?  

I was pleased to wander through a delightful maze of sparkling items contributed by local artists and local shops – all calculated not only to put folks in the “spirit” but designed to entice you to get a head start on holiday gift giving.  Just look at these displays!

If you are in the area there will be two “Gift Shops” such as this (in the former restaurant space of Cool Spring Organics) with lots of new items.  The shops are presented by Cloud Haven Studio, Wendy Christine Duke.

Gift Shop #1  – November 22-30  Monday-Saturday 10AM to 6PM;  Sunday 10AM to 5PM

Gift Shop #2 – December 13-23  Monday-Saturday 10AM to 6PM;  Sunday 10AM to 5 PM

Cool Spring Organic Market is located at 30 Greenhouse Road, Lexington, Virginia 24450

 

 

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