This past week I was up to Grammie Ruth's at Cary Lake in Littleton. One day I was doing some things with her bookshelves and her files and I came across a square, flat box. This reminded me of the boxes that used to hold lovely, lace-bound handkerchiefs for ladies. And sure enough! Inside, wrapped in tissue, were three lovely ones. They were the fashionable kind that women carried to Church or other dress-up occasions. Also in the box was a delightful Christmas card addressed to my mother. It was signed, "Dallas".Here I held in my hand a Christmas card and gift from my mother-in-law to my mother that was probably given and received in 1963 -- the year that Gramp and I were married. The thing that took my breath was a simple message on the back of the card, "thank you for giving me a wonderful daughter." I cannot even begin to tell you how much that sentiment meant to me. It was a difficult wait for Gramp to come in from hunting. I could hardly wait to show him the long-forgotten treasure.
Now let me say that our parents grew up in the times of the Great Depression. Therefore, they wasted nothing and they didn't start using anything "new" until the old was no longer useful. I remember my Mom using clear nail polish to stop the runs on her nylon stockings. And she STILL washes out plastic sandwich bags to be used over and over. Those are just two examples of her frugality.
So often her children have opened a new package of towels or a new set of drinking glasses or some other gift just to be sure she used them. But she still keeps some of her new treasures in their boxes or puts them on a shelf where they wait to be used and enjoyed. It is a habit from childhood poverty and the 1930s that has never totally gone away.
But in contrast to my consternation in the past, this time I was happy to find the unused gift in the security of a collection of old photos and composition books. I was thrilled to receive this high compliment from my mother-in-law, a lady who also grew up with ideas like, "don't praise them too much or they will be 'stuck up'". Of course, I knew she loved me -- she said she did. But I am so glad she thought I was "wonderful" -- and more than that, she thought of me as a daughter. She only had three sons. Her one daughter did not survive to be born. I am SO glad God gave me the opportunity to help fill one corner of the void that she felt forever from the time she learned she had lost a little girl.
This find touched Gramp's heart, too -- it was like a little visit from her. It was like a hug and kiss.
PS: I took the box into the room where my Mom was sitting and I told her I had found something I would like to have if it was ok with her. And, of course, it was!
