Friday, February 11, 2011

First Love...

Off to do some Valentine shopping today... will post some of my great etsy gift finds next week, but little eyes like to check out my blog, so those will have to wait.  Handsome Hubby and I don't do big Valentine celebrating, our anniversary is right around the corner and so we usually save it up... but it did get me thinking today about great love stories, and about one you might enjoy.

My great Aunt Orangie (yep, one in the same) was quite a woman... smart, attractive, opinionated, stylish... really just a wonderful role model for a niece who basically worshiped her. She was a first grade teacher and  didn't marry until she was 29, but when she did, she married well and promptly retired from teaching.  My great Uncle Garland (funny names, aren't they?) was a gem.  He worked his way up in THE PHONE COMPANY (back when there was only ONE phone company) from a grunt to upper management... and was happily settled into retirement by the time I can remember.

They had a beautiful antique filled house in Nashville, and a farm in the country.  She was in the garden club, women's circle at church, Bridge Club... a real social butterfly and community leader.  He sang in the church choir, gardened, and did the dishes EVERY SINGLE TIME she cooked one of her famous southern meals, most often using vegetables she had canned from his garden.  They never had children, she told me because she was scared she was too old by the time they married... which I find funny since so many women these days are having babies until their early 50's.  If anyone should have had kids, it was these two...  but lucky for us, my brother and I became their "grandchildren" and spent many, many hours enjoying their company, hanging out on the farm, just soaking in their greatness.

When she died, I think he couldn't stand being in that house without her.  I will never forget being with him when he walked into the funeral home and saw her for the first time... he stopped cold at the door and exclaimed, "Oh Honey!  You look so beautiful."   OMIGOSH... just writing that makes me tear up all over again.  Although he was mentally sharp as a tack, he sold the house and nearly everything in it and moved into assisted living.   One year later he joined her... think he really couldn't stand to be away from her any longer.

One of the things she left to me (besides a wealth of life lessons) was this sweet little silverplate set...


It has been used for every special occasion and holiday since.... just love it and the history it represents.  When I received it I found this tucked inside...



Don't you love that? Every time I pull this set out, it makes me smile.  This past Christmas Handsome Hubby was doing the dishes (lucky girl, got my very own Uncle Garland) and he noticed the markings on one of the knives.


Not sure how well you can read this, but it says 1847 Rogers Bros.   Of course there are many, many patterns so we started comparing and here is our match...


Can you guess what the name of this pattern might be?
FIRST LOVE.  Just makes me swoon...

14 comments:

Julie Martins said...

Great story Kelly...I love learning more about your family...it all makes perfect sense...why you are who you are. Thanks for sharing.

Annette said...

Such a beautiful and touching story in time for Valentine's Day. Thank you for sharing!

beth neely said...

that was so beautiful kelly. thank you so much for sharing such a great story. the gift tag from 1939 is such a wonderful treat to have and to look at each time you open the silver box.

CremeMagnolia said...

Thank you Kelly for making ME cry first thing this morning! Love you blog, Karen

Unknown said...

What a GREAT story!

Lizzy Love said...

Your newest follower here, thank you for your comment on my treasury, very appreciated :) Your story above just brought tears to my eyes, so very very sweet and I am a sucker for a good love story probably why my series 'A Love Story' will never end lol

Alessandra @Tribal Times said...

What a wonderful post! What is amazing is that her handwriting is so similar to my grandmother's writing. Beautiful silverware, I'm sure you'll cherish it always.

Tiffany Barry said...

You've made me tear up! I've heard that women live longer after their spouses pass, but that the women are such a rock in their men's lives, that men soon follow when their love passes.

Sweetly sad.

Thanks for sharing this beautiful story!

-Tiffany with Will Write 4 Food

--Home--
http://tiffanywillwrite4food.weebly.com

--Blog--
http://tiffanywillwrite4food.blogspot.com

SleightGirl said...

Memories are the best gifts of all.

Linnet said...

This is truly a wonderful love story about some amazing people that you were not only related to, but who played such an important role in your life! How nice to have something special like the silverware to always treasure forever along with your special memories!

www.vintagenowandthen.etsy.com

My Life Under the Bus said...

OMG to die for gorgeous and what a sweet story! Love things like that. I think thats why I love antiques. You figure to survive someone had to love them. I didn't grow up with any family I think that's why I love old things so much - makes me feel connected to something. Great post!

Karina Wetzel said...

Aww This is a beautiful Story :)!! Thank you so much for sharing it with us... I love your blog and look forward to your posts.

Patsy Oxley said...

What a sweet, lovely story! Lucky you for being part of their family.

MCatherine said...

A lovely story and one that touches my heart because I so enjoy and treasure the gifts my mother-in-law gave me before and after she passed away.
Since your anniversary is just around the corner, perhaps you would like to know about Hide A Heart HERE

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...