When I went to Michigan last summer to assist with closing down the parent’s house my brothers gave me carte blanche to take whatever I wanted. I didn’t bother with the silverware or expensive stuff. Rather I took an assortment of kick-knacks and souvenirs of my youth. In the the back of a cupboard stuffed behind the china were two Christmas containers I made using cut-out paper drawings and see-through ‘snow’ glitter. I was probably ten years old or younger when I made them. It was a simple job but I remember being quite proud of my industry. They probably haven’t seen daylight in decades. I certainly had forgotten about them. I took these, passing up the opportunity to take Mother’s china*.
Some of my fondest memories for the season are the church’s annual Christmas dinner and craft night. It happened in early December and I looked forward to it all year. In the glass case by the church office the crafts would appear for you to sign up to do. After the pot-luck dinner (casseroles for days!) the tables were set up and you moved about from table to table, presenting your ticket, and making the craft which you took home at the end of the night. I must have attended up to a decade of these events. I didn’t know any of the kitschy things I made survived. The earliest made items (plastic deli container top creations with cut-out construction paper items attached with glitter and Elmer’s glue) were used until they disintegrated through time.
I don’t remember these containers ever being out or used. Did Mother thank me and tactfully put them away, hoping I would not notice their absence? Could it be she had the forethought to bury them in the back of the cupboard for me to find them when she was dead and gone? Who can say. Regardless of how they ended up there, I nearly came to tears to see something from that time of life had survived and in good shape too.
When emotions like this occur I know I have reached old age. A young man would not feel this way about such silliness.
I wonder what to put into them. I wonder too if anything was ever put in them. Hard candy would be nice, as would red and green M&Ms. Maybe I will just keep them as they are: full of memories of Christmases long long ago.
*We have lots of china; our bins overflow with the stuff. At Thanksgiving for whimsy sake we got out a few plates. These haven’t seen daylight in ages either.
40 comments
December 1, 2020 at 3:08 AM
Moving with Mitchell
“…something from that time of life had survived and in good shape too.” And that I think may be why your mother never used them.
December 1, 2020 at 7:21 AM
Urspo
It is a sweet hypothesis. Indeed the other things I made were worn out through time (and they were not made well I fear)
December 1, 2020 at 3:56 AM
Hugh W. Roberts
How lovely to have found them again. I rather like them. I hope you put them on display every Christmas. The memories they hold are priceless. I must have a look and find out what the oldest Christmas item we have is, although, for the life of me, I have no idea what it is.
December 1, 2020 at 7:22 AM
Urspo
Thank you! I plan to have a read and a look-see at your entry today.
December 1, 2020 at 7:27 AM
Hugh W. Roberts
Thank you for giving me the idea for a post.
December 1, 2020 at 4:58 AM
David Godfrey
Collecting the things that connected you to memories was very wise. Enjoy them, enjoy the pleasant memories.
December 1, 2020 at 7:22 AM
Urspo
Yes. I thought this made sense than to take the expensive stuff that has no sentimental value.
December 1, 2020 at 5:22 AM
Todd Gunther
Very nice containers. Now they get to become sentimental knick-knacks for another generation.
December 1, 2020 at 7:23 AM
Urspo
Maybe they may!
December 1, 2020 at 5:31 AM
Fit Studs
They’re beautiful! 🙂
December 1, 2020 at 7:23 AM
Urspo
You are kind to say so.
I think they are a bit kitschy but hey they were basement Christmas crafts made by a ten year old. 🙂
December 1, 2020 at 5:41 AM
Curious Christmas Objects Around The House – Hugh's Views & News
[…] you to Michael at Spo-Reflections for the idea for this […]
December 1, 2020 at 5:44 AM
catrina56
I have an ashtray I painted in 2nd grade (who didn’t smoke in the ‘60’s?) and a Christmas tree ornament made out of cut up toilet paper roll, aluminum foil, plastic ‘holly’, and a tiny ribbon. There were six originally, but there was only one left when Mom divested herself of her Christmas decorations. Both are pretty cheesy, and in the event of a fire, would be two of the first things I’d save.
December 1, 2020 at 7:24 AM
Urspo
That sounds sweet. I suppose lots of folks have some sentimental knick-knack of no great value they find dear and loving.
December 1, 2020 at 6:37 AM
anne marie in philly
I have my maternal grandmother’s red wax candle and glass candle holder. this item was part of her living room decor from the 60s. the candle has never been lit. unlike myself, who has been lit many times over (no rubbish)…
maddie may have a few ideas about what to put in the containers. red and green M&Ms or hershey kisses sound lovely.
December 1, 2020 at 7:25 AM
Urspo
I think you should light both this month.
December 2, 2020 at 10:19 AM
anne marie in philly
I will be lit, but the candle will be not. I cannot find another candle like this anywhere. and when I look at it, I think of grandmom. she’s been gone since 1988.
December 1, 2020 at 6:41 AM
rjjs8878
Very festive!
December 1, 2020 at 7:25 AM
Urspo
LOL perhaps they are, festive. I think they look more ‘Charlie Brown tree”
December 1, 2020 at 7:26 AM
Debra She Who Seeks
I think they’re quite lovely, actually! Don’t put anything in them. As you so eloquently put it — they are already “full of memories of Christmases long long ago.” Those kind of decorations are the BEST.
December 1, 2020 at 7:30 AM
Urspo
Yes I think that is best.
December 1, 2020 at 9:54 AM
Sam
I might just have a tear in my eye thinking of your memory. they are very pretty regardless of what you choose to do, and I hope they stay a part of your Christmas seasons to come.
December 1, 2020 at 12:54 PM
Urspo
Thank you
I hope they and myself stick around together for some time
December 1, 2020 at 10:07 AM
Bob Slatten
I like them; there’s something sort of antique-ish about them.
December 1, 2020 at 12:54 PM
Urspo
Early 70s antiques- practically ancient.
December 1, 2020 at 10:24 AM
Jean
How lovely that your mum kept them. She must have cherished them for so long and probably knew exactly where she kept them.
December 1, 2020 at 12:55 PM
Urspo
That is a nice interpretation; thank you for thinking of it that way
December 1, 2020 at 12:18 PM
Lori
They are so cute. I remember doing crafts like that. What a treasure you found.
December 1, 2020 at 12:55 PM
Urspo
I wonder if the church still does these workshops – certainly not this year but recently?
December 1, 2020 at 12:45 PM
Old Lurker
Such a sensitive artistic child! It is a wonder nobody suspected.
I have been reading Maddie’s blog too much, because when I see such festive containers I imagine them full of balls.
December 1, 2020 at 12:56 PM
Urspo
Not a bad idea that: little Christmas tree ball ornaments. This would be better than sweets.
December 1, 2020 at 2:46 PM
anne marie in philly
maddie sure LOVES her balls!
December 1, 2020 at 2:12 PM
Gigi Rambles
I love them! And I’m so happy that you have them.
December 1, 2020 at 5:14 PM
Urspo
thank you. I am glad to have them as well.
Brother #3 kept the paintings of great value, but I am content.
December 1, 2020 at 4:23 PM
Steven
Always nice to experience a flood of memories; especially when they are quite fond! They look splendid, even in 2020.
December 1, 2020 at 5:15 PM
Urspo
wish I could say the same for myself hohoho
December 1, 2020 at 8:19 PM
Linda Practical Parsimony
I really like those two items. I kept lots of things my children made for me. I would not put anything in those. Their art can stand alone. Besides, they do not need to be handled or washed. Just put them out amidst the rest of the decorations.
December 1, 2020 at 8:28 PM
Urspo
Yes that is what I shall do
December 1, 2020 at 11:12 PM
wcs
Hard candy in one and red & green M&Ms in the other. Problem solved! And I believe that the doctor is “real” in.
December 2, 2020 at 5:33 AM
Urspo
All good !