Days Gone By

Our five days here are now drawing to a close. We'll be heading for the airport mid-morning tomorrow, and after two flights and a long bus ride, will arrive in Bellingham about 9:30pm local time (11:30pm Austin time).

We've had a marvelous time visiting with my sister, her daughter E, and her son A, and the weather has been kind to us, with mostly sunny skies and moderate temperatures. I took a photo today that showed the beautiful blue sky, wispy white clouds, and some attractive buildings near the local senior center where we'd dropped Phil for a couple of hours of pickleball, but this 1925 photo of my mother, holding her kitten, and her best friend, ages 5 or 6, had more appeal for me for today's blip. Seeing my mother as a little girl adds a new dimension to my memories of her, as have the photos of my father in his youth.

This afternoon, M brought out all of the silver flatware that she inherited from our mother and sister E, passed down from our maternal grandmother and her sister, with a few pieces from other family members. We sorted it, grouped like with like, and made a comprehensive list. I'll do the same with my portion of the family silver flatware once I'm home, and will share that list with M.

When we were children, the family silver was brought out only for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and the chore of polishing it fell to us. M uses hers daily, and it's been a treat to eat our meals -- much simpler than those served by our grandparents -- with those handsome, long-loved knives, forks, and spoons. I don't know if I'll start using my silver every day, but I certainly won't limit its use to major holidays, because I love the memories that come with each piece.

I treasure the old family photos I have and the copies of others that I've made here, but there is nothing quite like eating with utensils that our beloved grandmother and great aunt first used--a tangible, direct connection to the past.

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