The old girl and the dishes

This is just a fable about the old girl and the dishes. Although it really happened today.
This is the story: My grandmother is 90 1/2 (her words, she adds the half as she is pretty proud of that) and is coming out in July, to surprise the grandkids and great grandkids - my sister and family coming in from Ireland. She wants to "say her goodbyes". I am on the sly booking all this for her to get here, wheelchairs at airports and more.
Our guest who is a lady in her high 80's here with daughter showing daughter where she was born 50+ years ago. A walk down memory lane. I decided to bring out the china that was my 90 1/2 year old grandmother's PARENTS from their wedding. I have a photo, yes a very old photo, showing her parents with their parents. I show this to the mother-daughter here.
I tell this old girl that I wanted her to know about the dishes she dined on, and I show her the one in my hand. I tell her I am going to tell my grandmother when she is here as she will love that very much!
So like all people, she begins to tell me the dishes her daughter has. Who cares. It means nothing to me, I am showing you the dishes YOU ATE ON and the PHOTO of the 90 1/2 year old's parents on their wedding day with their parents.
I turn to the daughter, who already told me she is "a foodie" and the mother corrects and says "no, she is gourmet" and I ask "Do you use them?" She hesitates and stumbles over her words.
The finally says "No."
I ask "Why not?"
I then leave them with my parting comment of plates were meant to be eaten on and I bet YOUR MOTHER would be thrilled to see you using them and enjoying them vs in a cupboard covered in dust. No they may not be everyday dishes, but it is not everyday you have those you love with you!

Dang. I wish I had a photo of my nana with the dishes she gave to me.

We USED the dishes and I do today. Mom always said things are to be used.
I got flack from Sheila's family for using her "good dishes" for Thanksgiving THEY were invited to. Those dishes were to be saved for the oldest daughter - as if Sheila did not have 2 other daughters. Dishes collecting dust and jewels that are kept in safes do not bring pleasure. They need to be enjoyed.
When my friend asked me why I did not buy the goblets I have saved for all year (they were the most beautiful and were $25 EACH) and had the money for, I replied, "Because I cannot bear the thought of crying as my kids break them." Rather than use the heavier Fostoria goblets (which were OK to use BTW) , they used the delicate goblets I bought instead of the ones I really wanted. Of the 6 I believe there is one that has no chips somewhere. As long as a glass or a dish was not broken horsing around, the only question I asked was - was it dirty? There is no sense in breaking a clean dish! Today, DH is more upset when a goblet of dish gets broken than I am.

gillumhouse said:

We USED the dishes and I do today. Mom always said things are to be used.
I got flack from Sheila's family for using her "good dishes" for Thanksgiving THEY were invited to. Those dishes were to be saved for the oldest daughter - as if Sheila did not have 2 other daughters. Dishes collecting dust and jewels that are kept in safes do not bring pleasure. They need to be enjoyed.
When my friend asked me why I did not buy the goblets I have saved for all year (they were the most beautiful and were $25 EACH) and had the money for, I replied, "Because I cannot bear the thought of crying as my kids break them." Rather than use the heavier Fostoria goblets (which were OK to use BTW) , they used the delicate goblets I bought instead of the ones I really wanted. Of the 6 I believe there is one that has no chips somewhere. As long as a glass or a dish was not broken horsing around, the only question I asked was - was it dirty? There is no sense in breaking a clean dish! Today, DH is more upset when a goblet of dish gets broken than I am..

Click to expand...

gillumhouse said:

We USED the dishes and I do today. Mom always said things are to be used.
I got flack from Sheila's family for using her "good dishes" for Thanksgiving THEY were invited to. Those dishes were to be saved for the oldest daughter - as if Sheila did not have 2 other daughters. Dishes collecting dust and jewels that are kept in safes do not bring pleasure. They need to be enjoyed.
When my friend asked me why I did not buy the goblets I have saved for all year (they were the most beautiful and were $25 EACH) and had the money for, I replied, "Because I cannot bear the thought of crying as my kids break them." Rather than use the heavier Fostoria goblets (which were OK to use BTW) , they used the delicate goblets I bought instead of the ones I really wanted. Of the 6 I believe there is one that has no chips somewhere. As long as a glass or a dish was not broken horsing around, the only question I asked was - was it dirty? There is no sense in breaking a clean dish! Today, DH is more upset when a goblet of dish gets broken than I am.

Click to expand...

I actually mentioned you today K, as these guests also used the Fostoria goblets, they, as you know are the best lasting goblets around. They are etched now from too much washing, but other than that they are work horses!
In the conversation was mentioned the collecting fine china by the piece, which was the way it was for many people. Asking for it as the wedding set, and more. But to store it in a box in the attic? Where is my favorite quote...let me find it and post it here:
[h3]
interestingly enough I have a guest post on this topic from an innmate in Maine from 2010 titled "The Year of Me"[/h3]
[h3]
Today's Inspiration for The Year of Me from your Innkeeper at The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast: [/h3]
[h3]
"Start living now. Stop saving the good china for that special occasion. Every day you are alive is a special occasion. Every minute, every breath, is a gift from God." --Mary Manin Morrissey[/h3]

Joey Bloggs said:

gillumhouse said:

We USED the dishes and I do today. Mom always said things are to be used.
I got flack from Sheila's family for using her "good dishes" for Thanksgiving THEY were invited to. Those dishes were to be saved for the oldest daughter - as if Sheila did not have 2 other daughters. Dishes collecting dust and jewels that are kept in safes do not bring pleasure. They need to be enjoyed.
When my friend asked me why I did not buy the goblets I have saved for all year (they were the most beautiful and were $25 EACH) and had the money for, I replied, "Because I cannot bear the thought of crying as my kids break them." Rather than use the heavier Fostoria goblets (which were OK to use BTW) , they used the delicate goblets I bought instead of the ones I really wanted. Of the 6 I believe there is one that has no chips somewhere. As long as a glass or a dish was not broken horsing around, the only question I asked was - was it dirty? There is no sense in breaking a clean dish! Today, DH is more upset when a goblet of dish gets broken than I am..

Click to expand...

gillumhouse said:

We USED the dishes and I do today. Mom always said things are to be used.
I got flack from Sheila's family for using her "good dishes" for Thanksgiving THEY were invited to. Those dishes were to be saved for the oldest daughter - as if Sheila did not have 2 other daughters. Dishes collecting dust and jewels that are kept in safes do not bring pleasure. They need to be enjoyed.
When my friend asked me why I did not buy the goblets I have saved for all year (they were the most beautiful and were $25 EACH) and had the money for, I replied, "Because I cannot bear the thought of crying as my kids break them." Rather than use the heavier Fostoria goblets (which were OK to use BTW) , they used the delicate goblets I bought instead of the ones I really wanted. Of the 6 I believe there is one that has no chips somewhere. As long as a glass or a dish was not broken horsing around, the only question I asked was - was it dirty? There is no sense in breaking a clean dish! Today, DH is more upset when a goblet of dish gets broken than I am.

Click to expand...

I actually mentioned you today K, as these guests also used the Fostoria goblets, they, as you know are the best lasting goblets around. They are etched now from too much washing, but other than that they are work horses!
In the conversation was mentioned the collecting fine china by the piece, which was the way it was for many people. Asking for it as the wedding set, and more. But to store it in a box in the attic? Where is my favorite quote...let me find it and post it here:
[h3]
interestingly enough I have a guest post on this topic from an innmate in Maine from 2010 titled "The Year of Me"[/h3]
[h3]
Today's Inspiration for The Year of Me from your Innkeeper at The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast: [/h3]
[h3]
"Start living now. Stop saving the good china for that special occasion. Every day you are alive is a special occasion. Every minute, every breath, is a gift from God." --Mary Manin Morrissey[/h3]
.

Click to expand...

I have one set I got on eB that is from a pottery the WAS in the city my Daddy, youngest brother, and I were born in. There will be no more of this set it is so rare - but I USE it. It does me no good in the cabinet.. It is not even a complete set - but I can set for 4 and have luncheon size plates for breakfast and when I did dinners, I used the dinner plates. The table looks even MORE elegant when I use this set. (the cups are WAY roo small though!) The dishes I get the most compliments on were both from the Mission store and none are "complete sets".