For as long as I can remember, this quilt has been one of my favorite things. It belonged to my “Nana” who was my Great-Grandma, on my dad’s side. She was born in 1906 and the oldest of eight siblings! I grew up spending every weekend, Friday night – Sunday afternoon, at her house. She taught me to bake, to garden, embroider, sew, crochet and so much more. And on Sundays she took me to church.
I always wanted to take this quilt home with me, but she wouldn’t let me. This quilt was always special to her too. Her own mother had made it. She had a pattern, called “a drunkard’s path” and she loved way the blocks were arranged to form one long continuous “path” over the whole surface. However, she sent my Nana out to find the perfect shade of GREEN fabric to be the background to resemble grass. She said she was changing the name to “a snakes path” because she refused to have anything about a drunkard in her home!
Finally the day came, as she was downsizing to move into an assisted living facility, she let me take it home. I used it often, but as it began looking a bit tattered, I stopped. When Alanna was 2, I took it to use in her Christmas photos. I think I loved it even more after that… so it’s become sort of a tradition! This year my other granddaughter was able to be with us for photos, and I can’t help but think that Nana was there watching too.
This morning I thought about the way we treasure certain things. We tend not to use them out of FEAR they might break or get lost. How will our future generations learn to love and appreciate those treasures if we don’t find a way to share them? Many of us are spending the holidays with just our immediate families this year, and might not feel like going “all out” the way we would if extended family and friends were present. So I challenge you, USE the good China, read the Christmas story from an old family Bible, make your grandma’s favorite recipe, just stop “saving” them for a special occasion, because everyday can be an opportunity to make special moments.
Merry Christmas friends!
FearlessHapaGirl 