But in my opinion, the most remarkable thing she did was this: she bought herself something. A gorgeous, huge, stylish, impeccably "Claire" piece of furniture. She bought it to house her prized collection of Fiesta Ware, most of which she inherited from my great-grandmother, Cartha.
Why is this remarkable?
Because this woman is selfless. And I was incredibly proud that she did something for herself, especially when I saw the smile it put on her face.

More importantly, it has made me realize that using the special things I own makes me feel fantastic. Why shouldn't I use those things every day? So I do. I use the Lenox Chirp China we registered for our wedding for, and when my grandmother asks if I want more, I usually shriek "Yes!! I use it!"
I also wear my mom, aunt, and grandma's vintage clothing. And the designer stuff I own? I don't wait for a special occasion to bust it out. I wear it. All the time. I wear the fancy stuff in my closet until it's threadbare. I wear the onyx ring that is a family heirloom. Why wait for the right moment? What if it never comes and twenty years later, you're thinking, wow I should have used/worn/shown off that fill-in-the-blank. I simply don't feel like waiting.
Life is far too short to keep the China on the shelf. Wear your best clothes. Highlight your heirlooms. Wear grandma's pearls. And, like my momma, buy the damn furniture.
Love,
Jillian
No comments:
Post a Comment