Things that make you sad, then happy

[christopher575]

My mom died in early December of 2005, and she'd already bought some Christmas presents. Her last gift to me that I got when she was no longer around was a really great set of anodized aluminium tumblers. Totally my style, she really nailed it. I love them and I drink from them every day. Unfortunately, they're starting to show their age. 

At first I was bummed out because they'd probably have kept their color better if I didn't put them in the dishwasher. But I'm starting to look at them in a new light. Much like the wrinkles in my face and the grey in my beard, I see all the weird faded spots and streaks as proof that they've been around. It's like a ritual. Every day when I come home from work or in the morning if it's a day off, I fill one with ice water and head over to my spot on the couch. As I catch up on my laptop, I see the condensation form a perfect even coat, which eventually turns into beads of water rolling down. 

Once the tumbler is wet on the outside, the streaks and blotches are nowhere near as noticeable as when I pull it out of the cabinet; they look best when they're being used. So I use them as much as possible. And I think about my mom every day.

Comments

[girlvinyl.livejournal.com]

Wow. That is really nice. I am glad you're using them. It took me a long time to stop being obsessed with keeping everything perfect and pristine at the expense of enjoying the stuff I have. I don't trash things, but I have started using them. My mom gave me two sets of china and the family silver last time she visited. Now when I have friends over, I break out the china for dessert and coffee. It's fun and looks fancy and is just kind of a silly, fun thing to do. "lol we're eating off china! We are the 1%!"

I am sure that your mom intended for you to use them and enjoy them like you are.

[christopher575.livejournal.com]

Oh she did for sure. She was mad that my sister-in-law didn't want some extra silverware or something like that because it wouldn't match. It really bugged my mom that she would only use one matched set. I've got a drawer full of pieces from at least seven different sets, and I'm glad I do because I use the hell out of them while cooking and would run out way too often.

I'll use the hell out of these, and if I ever decide it's time for new ones, maybe they can be made into a lamp or something.

[christopher575.livejournal.com]

Also I find it funny that I think about her more often because of these tumblers than I do because of the GIANT TATTOO I got in honor of her.

[girlvinyl.livejournal.com]

It makes sense, tumblers are SUCH a mom thing.

[badrobot68.livejournal.com]

My grandparents had a set of those too. When they died, it was the one thing all 10 grandchildren wanted.

I have all kinds of stuff that Debbie gave me. It's nice to see signs of her all around my apartment.

[pixink.livejournal.com]

My mom inherited my great grandmother's crystal wine glasses and champagne flutes. She gave them to me, because she didn't have room for them. She said, "You won't want to use these much. They're real crystal." I remember that she used them for a couple of Christmas dinners before letting me have them. I drink from them almost every time I have wine. And then I hand wash and dry them, and put them away. Stuff is meant to be used.

<3

[cattycritic.livejournal.com]

It's a nice story.

[paranoiattaque.livejournal.com]

this is adorable.

[theropod.livejournal.com]

What a sad yet beautiful story. I think often of my own mother, who still lives, although I lost her long ago.

Her greatest gift to me was one I don't think she ever intended. I'm sure she genuinely thought she was helping me by trying to turn me away from the homosexual lifestyle to embrace religion instead, but she only set herself up to be The Thing Which I Had To Overcome.

That's right. She gave me a villain. And overcoming that villain gave me a strength that I believe is lacking in many of my generation. No whiners here. No victims. And no words can possibly hurt me worse than I already have been.

[clintswan.livejournal.com]

excellent attitude...