Today I was making a fairy garden on my beloved grapefruit tree that has died. I had gathered bits and pieces of glass, rocks, tile, and little statues of fairies I had collected over the years. My kids call me a "pack rat,” but I learned early that when something has fulfilled its purpose and is ready for the garbage, I save it for new a purpose.
Growing up in Jamestown, North Dakota in a very large family. My mother never threw anything away. By the time a pair of blue jeans had gone through four siblings and got to me, I made it into a purse. And all those old dresses, pants, sheets, and table clothes that had served their time and purpose were torn up and made into rag rugs. Nylons that had runs in them were put to multiple purposes of plant protectors, covers for valuables, storage for baseballs – and they made protectors for sterling silver. Worn Chenille bedspreads were cut and made into warm bathrobes and slippers.
Did I appreciate all this? ABSOLUTELY NOT! I was embarrassed when my friends came over to spend the night and whipped out their cotton bathrobes, and slippers bought from a store. I would always hide the rag rugs, and when complimented on my denim purse, I lied and said I bought it J.C. Penney. Roars of laughter were expressed when my brothers would bring the nylon stocking out with all their baseballs neatly stacked up in a panty hose leg. Our playmates didn't appreciate the fact that never a ball was lost under a sofa or eaten by a dog when stored in those nylons after a playground game.
George Bernard Shaw wrote, " It's a pity youth is wasted on the young.”
Storytelling has turned me into quite a reflective person, and as I reminisce, I am filled with the appreciation that I should have had as a child of the Lowe family, and a little remorse.
One thing life in Jamestown taught me I now understand is that honoring the old is a valuable experience. One has only to watch Antique's Road show to be amazed at what those old things are now worth.
As I married, and had children of my own, the "old" became new for my family. Purses from blue jeans, flowing Batman caps from old sheets, tents from soiled and torn tablecloths. And the wonders of what pantyhose with runs can do even turned a couple of ideas I submitted to Hints for Heloise which were printed. Did my kids appreciate it? ABSOLUTELY NOT!
Crass commercialization has hit three of my four children. Batman caps are bought from Target, only a "real" tent from a sports store will do, but the biggest joke of all is rag rugs have become all the rage, and very expensive. When I volunteered to make them some, I was told, “Oh we just want new.”
Oh, but little do they know that mom, grandma or Nana is very sneaky. Picture frames made from my button collection, mosaic pots from broken tile they were going to throw away, a planter made for their back yard from bricks I took from their junk pile. Great fluffy sofa pillows from a tablecloth that they threw out. I'm Having the last laugh now!
(The image at the top can be found here.)
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