I’m a very sentimental person—especially when it comes to my grandparents. I treasure all the things I have that were once theirs. I particularly like the practical stuff that was theirs, which I still use.
A perfect example is my Granny’s biscuit cutter. I snagged it from my mom, who rarely cooks anymore, a few years back. I use that biscuit cutter almost every Sunday when I make brunch for my family. I always smile as I get it out of the drawer. It makes me feel close to her. Plus, my Granny made the best biscuits. I strive to keep that tradition alive. I make some damn good biscuits, if I do say so myself.
I have other things that belonged to my grandparents that I use on the regular. For example, today was a chilly day and my husband suggested I build a fire when he came home for lunch. He was kind enough to carry up some wood, so I was like WTF? Let’s do this. It sounded delightful. An afternoon nap with my pups in front of a roaring fire sounded like a dream.
The first thing I grabbed to get the fire going was the ash bucket to remove the ashes from a previous fire. This ash bucket was also my grandparents’. I caught myself smiling as I cleaned the fireplace. I love this ash bucket. It is totally old school and perfection. I’m so happy I have it.
As I scooped up all the old ashes, I thought about how many times I had watched my Granny do the same thing with this very bucket. I felt a sudden sense of closeness to her that made me very happy. It may have also brought tears to my eyes. Not a day goes by that I don’t miss my Granny and Pa. They were the best.
It was my Granny who taught me how to build a fire. And if I do say so myself, I’m kick-ass with starting and keeping a fire going. My skills are unmatched. I also get great satisfaction out of the process. As I’ve said before, a fire is about the only thing I like about winter. To have a day in front of the fire thinking about my grandparents is a nice way to go.
I’m so glad I have things all over my house that remind me of my grandparents and my childhood. It is such a gift. My best times as a kid were spent with them. They gave me the unconditional love and the support I desperately needed. They made me whole, and who I am today—good and bad, I suppose.
I love taking a trip down memory lane and feeling my grandparents’ presence. Just doing simple things around my house, like baking biscuits or building a fire, brings them to mind and floods my heart with happy memories.
Objects that trigger great memories are priceless. I’m glad I have several to keep my grandparents close to my heart. Treasure the little things, people. It’s the little stuff that truly matters.
Angela Traver
What is this blog about? Well, it's a general blog, but it is also a very specific blog. If you get that reference, you get a gold star! I have been a public relations professional and writer of press releases for more than 20 years—primarily in the booze biz. I decided to do some writing for fun and embrace the humor that gets me through most days. Hopefully it will make you chuckle—or at least smile. I’m a certified crazy magnet, and more than a little nutty myself, so buckle up. Also, I have two vices—profanity and red wine/whiskey. You’ve been warned. It should also be noted, that I’m a HUGE Bob & Sheri fan. I’ve been a listener for more than 20 years. This opportunity is a dream come true and it may have made me cry. That being said, I cry at everything. If you are into booze, dogs, food and/or knitting, hit me up on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter (although I’m terrible at Twitter and it scares me) @kyspiritsgal. You can also find all my previous blog posts at www.kyspiritsgal.com.
