Life Partners

Prompt #4 - On "The Bachelor" a rose is given to the women he could really see himself spending the rest of his life with. What six things in your life would you like to give a rose to and why?

And so, in my own personal rose ceremony, I am hereby asking the following things to stay with me for the rest of my life.

Grandma's Iron Skillet -

For many, many years, Grandma's iron skillet lay unused in a drawer. I was suffering from Fear of Iron Skillets. I had been seduced by the promises of Teflon. Then a few years ago, I pulled Grandma's skillet out of the drawer and put it into use, and we have been living happily ever after. Things to know about iron skillets - 1. They are not dirty. 2. They are not hard to clean. 3. They are easy to "season" - a quick Google will give you about 5 million how-to demos. 4. They heat so quickly and evenly that you will never want to ever use a lousy Teflon skillet again. For everything you ever wanted to know about the Iron Skillet, please visit Michele's post HERE.

Lavender Blue Tablecloth -

Every year, a French linens company called Lavender Blue sells their wares at Jude's school's Christmas boutique, which I run/organize. A couple of years ago, I spent hours staring and thinking and worrying and fretting and finally deciding to actually purchase one of these gorgeous tablecloths. It cost way more money than I should have been spending on a tablecloth for MYSELF right before Christmas, but I just couldn't resist. It's pretty and timeless and WASHABLE. And it fits my dining room table perfectly, no small feat. I use it all the time. And it's so classic and well-made that I like to think that some day, Jude's family will have it on their table and it will be referred to as "Grandma's tablecloth".

Ugly Old Comforter -

It's old. It's ugly. I love it. This ugly old twin comforter was on my bed back in college. At the time, it had matching curtains and a pillow sham, now long gone. It's made of a faded peach floral print. Remember when when everything was peach? Is peach even a color any more? It is now terribly worn and very soft. It goes on every camping trip, and is what I want to wrap myself up in when I have a cold.

The Necklace -

Several years ago, I stuck these three gold charms on one chain, and started wearing them all the time. I hadn't realized that I was really wearing it ALL THE TIME, until one night when I didn't have it on, and Jude gasped "Mom! Where's your necklace?!" I love each of these charms very dearly. The one on the left is a James Avery open heart charm, which Mama and Daddy gave me for my high school graduation. James Avery is a beloved Texas Hill Country jeweler. The middle charm is a Miraculous Medal, which Jimmy gave me just after Jude was born, and the charm on the right is a Black Hills gold cross, which Mama and Daddy gave me for my baptism. I love them all, and sort of feel naked without them.

The New Throw -

Okay, I know I've only just started it, but already, I know that the new throw that I am knitting will be a KEEPER. I started it on Ash Wednesday as a replacement for the stupid games I have given up for Lent, and here it is so far...

...it needs to be finished and edged and steamed. It's soft "like buttah" and the coolest kind of grayish/greenish color. Can't WAIT to get it finished and curl up with it!

My Church Choir -

I've been singing in the A Cappella Choir at Blessed Sacrament Church in Hollywood for 12 years now, and I can't imagine ever wanting to leave. I'll end up being that little old church lady who, despite an aged, crackly voice, still sings in the choir until her children move her into "the home". It's always a joy, always challenging, always a learning experience. I adore the people. I adore the music. I adore being an active, productive part of my church. And I love my weirdly liberal Catholic church.

Here are a couple of recordings I have dug up, which hopefully will illustrate to you why I love my choir so much. First is from The Seven Last Words of Christ by Theodore Dubois - The First Word. Our baritone soloist is John Schaefer and our tenor soloist is Louie Ulanday...

 

BSC First Word

The next is an African-American spiritual called Every Time I Feel the Spirit...

 

Every Time I Feel The Spirit

So, what things do you want to spend the rest of your life with?

 

Comments

[mommylisa]

I have a comforter like that - but mine is a well worn king I bought at an outlet to cover the waterbed I had when I lived in Indianapolis. ;)

[Michele]

Cast iron, greatest pan ever made, hands down. Looking at your new throw makes me want to make one. Which would be lovely if I wasn't a miserable failure at knitting.

[Jan]

We have a knitted throw blanket underneath the Amish quilt on our bed that I will never be without until it falls apart. I'm not sure why I'm so partial to it. The Amish quilt, too, will be with me forever and ever (like your tablecloth, it was far too expensive but I couldn't go home without it).

The cast iron in my kitchen is also a given.

[VandyJ]

I'd have to choose my book collection. Some of them I've had since childhood and dearly love revisiting.
I'd also never want to part with my wedding ring. It's unique and I love all the meaning behind it.

My spin is up:
http://tttandme.blogspot.com/2012/03/spin-cycle-hair.html

[Sprite's Keeper]

I can't even imagine my six things. I guess my pound puppy that I've had since I was 9, Sprite's baby quilt, and the Star of David my parents gave me when I was 21. :-)

[Arnebya]

There is a Tigger had (a hand knitted hat with a handmade Tigger on top) that I've had since I was a toddler. When I moved out of my mother's house, it came with me. She thought I intended to pass it along to my children. Um, no, b/c my kids destroy things and Tigger is mine. I won't even let them see him b/c they will try to TOUCH IT NO DON'T TOUCH IT BACK GRUBBY FINGERS BACK! I am in LOVE with that quilt. I want to bury my face in it but my monitor is too hard. I'm with VandyJ above: my books are keepers and I hope I get to keep my current robe forever and ever amen. And the cast iron skillet. I don't think I've used anything else since the mid-90s when I got my first apartment. We were at a yard sale and they were $5 apiece. We got three and I can't imagine what I'd do without them (the great thing about them is they transcend gas or electric heat, cooking evenly on either kind, even when your burners are all jacked up and uneven. That can't have been just me). Oh, and my vinyl record collection.

[Ducky]

The throw looks so amazingly comfy and warm...and I'm not just saying that because I'm wracked with the germs of boogerlickers right now.

All your items are beautiful and have such heartwarming sentiment behind them. Wonderful post!

[Keely]

I manage to lose things. So I don't get too attached to them. I do, however have a short list of things I've lost over my lifetime that I'd really like back.

[Jennie@gotmyreservations]

I love everything about your post -- I almost bought a French tablecloth just last weekend. I'm signing up for your Facebook page!

[Peg]

Loved your list!

My Spin will be up on Friday morning:
http://pegbur7.wordpress.com/2012/03/09/spinning-hair/

Thanks!