Keeping memories alive

My Thanksgiving centerpiece just arrived. I've parked it on a corner of my dining room table until I get better organized. Right now, I'm scurrying to finish the grocery list and decide what kinds of pies (and how many) to make tonight.

White roses are a Thanksgiving and Christmas tradition at our house, and they're always arranged in a shallow bowl that fits inside this antique pressed-glass compote with a gold "crown" rim. Each year when friends and family members admire the flowers, I delight in pointing out their container, which was one of my grandmother's little treasures. No doubt I could find one just like it on eBay for under a hundred bucks, but this piece is priceless to me.

I am blessed with many family heirlooms. I don't believe in packing such things away "for safekeeping," but think they should be used and talked about. I'd hate to think that one day my own grandchildren might unpack my treasures and not know why those things were special to me, so I pull out my prized possessions at every opportunity and tell everyone who will listen where the things came from and why I value them.

One of these days, somebody's bound to drop and break my grandmother's compote. If I'm still around, I'll cry a few bitter tears, but I'll never regret having used the dish. I know the memories I'm sharing with my family right now will last for years and years after the shattered glass has been swept away.

May you and yours have a warm and wonderful Thanksgiving.