“Look what I found Mom! It’s your silver charm bracelet I took five years ago when I left home!” All delivered in a voice of some amazement while my daughter nodded her head in sage acceptance, reminding me of the lapis ring she took from me some years ago. I recall the pair of scissors I brought from my mother’s sewing basket when I married 69 years ago. They long ago lost their edge, but then so have I in the ensuing years. Perhaps they were payback for the beloved stuffed raccoon my mother kept when I left on my honeymoon.
Is this an unconscious method of keeping some part of our childhood or of our past? I think it must be, though I can’t imagine why I took scissors–surely there were other things more useful?
Our Kate, world traveler that she has been as a tourist or traveler, departed today for London as a resident which is an entirely different thing. She called the other day to tell me about the woman in Paris who wore a full length mink while leading her little dog wearing an identical coat. She said “I fit in Paris—I have tried to fit in in London, but it isn’t the same.” Although she has been a frequent visitor of her new home, it will take time to “fit in” as she calls it. A Londoner of my acquaintance says it sometimes takes a long time to feel comfortable in that large labyrinth of a city. I might add that all moves take time to make you comfortable. It’s more than learning which Underground gets you to where you want to go. It’s really about making the people you smile at, smile back. Bon Voyage my Kate. Please don’t make Luca wear a fur coat.
Pachofa-Unfinished 
You have free accommodation in London? Sweet! (Easy for me to say with all my babies still under the one roof.)
LikeLike
We’ll probably have to fight for a bed with all our babies going for a visit!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope Kate will get many smiling back to her in London. If she is anything like her Mom, I’m sure many will.
LikeLike
Thank you for the undeserved compliment—this Kate is granddaughter, but her Mom is a good smiler too!
LikeLike
I lived in London for some years and I felt like Kate does now. I never quite got London. Paris, on the other hand, was instantly understood 🙂 Even so, I had opportunities in London I never would have had in Australia. Kate will discover that too if she hasn’t already. Plus, Kayti, she’s not so very far away. xx
LikeLike
She’s already planning trips home for birthdays etc. Dr. A’s 90th is next May and I told her that is a MUST. She said “you don’t think I would miss my Bubbie’s birthday do you?”
They have been working on moving to London for two years now, and she does have a couple of friends which helps, and I’m sure they already know all the right pubs. I love London and Paris, they each offer something different. She speaks fluent French which helps too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Of course, she wouldn’t miss Bubbie’s birthday 🙂 xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, the mementos we keep to anchor us to a place and time. I have several that I treasure: some whimsical, some practical, some decorative, others decidedly not. I think of them as a ribbon that gently binds generations. Thank you for reminding me of these things in your lovely post.
LikeLike
Hereafter I will think of these ribbons “gently binding us to our past”. Thanks Janet.
LikeLike
After Mom moved down here, I glommed on to that locket I showed you — the one with the photos of her and Dad. She didn’t know it for the longest time, because she never wore it, but one day she said, “Do you happen to know…” I did, of course, and told her. She asked if I’d bring it back, and of course I said I would. But I never did.
Why? She’d moved into the stage of life where she kept putting things into spots for safe-keeping, and then forgetting where they were. I didn’t want the locket to go missing due to over-caution! It’s interesting the pieces of jewelry (and other things) I kept after she died. One piece is a little starburst with emerald stones, that I used to pin onto the formals my dolls wore. 🙂
LikeLike
This was so sweet Linda. I remember that locket. I have a couple of lines more to put onto WARM BREAD ETC. I will see if I can find my locket to mention. We never want to let go of things from our past do we? It slips away so fast and things change.
I already sometimes forget where I put things–usually jewelry. I have a great necklace that I love and haven’t worn for several years. I spent a few sleepless nights wondering where it was. I found it eventually and still haven’t worn it. Go figure.
I made a number of wild necklaces from jewelry of my mother, mostly strings of bead which aren’t my style. I gave one to one daughter and told her to either hang it on the wall or drape it out of a nice native bowl. Use it as a decoration.
LikeLike