Poetics Tuesday and we’re to consider
the state of impermanence, which has
been much on my mind these past few
weeks as I’m preparing to move. There
comes a time we realize the things we
felt were permanent, that we couldn’t
live without, are simply that … things.
Submitted to dVerse
February 25, 2020
********
It’s an antique stepback cupboard I acquired
many years ago. Inside a door is scripted
“A Christmas gift for Mr. and Mrs. (Name Withheld)
from Mr. and Mrs. (Name Withheld). Christmas, 1888”.
I wondered how such a treasured piece of family history
ended at an antique auction house. Of course I brought
it home with me. Polished and much loved, it was part
of my life for the next 25 years, displaying china and
glassware. When I sold my home, I sold my collection
of antique furniture, except for it, and I brought it with
me when I moved in with my son and his wife 6 years
ago. But now we are downsizing, and there will be no
place for it in our new home. I’ve sold it to the daughter
of a friend who has a booth in an antique mall, happy
to see she regarded it as I had all those years ago. It is
permanently impermanent, this old cupboard. It will
collect the memories of yet another family. How I wish
it could tell me the story of its last 130 years!
A blog for the midnight epiphanies and idle thoughts of a hopeless wordaholic.
Sorry you had to let it go, but happy it will continue on in the hands of someone who will likewise cherish it.
ReplyDeleteOh, wow, what a treasure!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a beautiful piece of furniture--full of stories--and ready to hold new ones. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad to have to say goodbye to stuff we cherish for years.
ReplyDeleteOh, it could tell the most amazing story! What a treasure it has been!
ReplyDeleteYou have shown so well why writing our stories is so important. Cabinets can't tell their stories.
ReplyDeletethis reminded me of a quote by Mitch Albom: "“Sometimes when you sacrifice something precious, you're not really losing it. You're just passing it on to someone else.”
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing such lovely memory.
Thanks for sharing that quote. So true!
DeleteI like your remembrance of that "permanently impermanent" cupboard. I can hear in your words how much you miss it.
ReplyDeleteI always wonder how treasures like this changes hand... I hope it will find a new good home.
ReplyDeleteIt is a warm feeling to know that it will be cared for.
ReplyDeleteIf only it could talk, right! It will undoubtedly be as good to the next family as it's been to all the others. Probably a little more creaky. But who isn't over time😊. A nice write
ReplyDeletePat