Lila's Gift

I never knew my maternal grandmother, Lila Louise.
She died when my own mother was just a young girl.

She was born in Bristol, England
where she met and married my grandfather, John.

Old records show that their families were neighbors.

 

After their marriage they immigrated to Canada, 

where my grandfather attended seminary,

and shortly after they came to America.

I have a few treasures that were Lila's,

passed down from my mother

Her watch

I keep it in the china cupboard 

in a watch case.  My mother wore it, but I don't.

A colbalt blue perfume bottle.

Bristol is known for it's cobalt glass.

There's still a trace of perfume in the bottle

A Weller vase

And an amethyst and mother-of-pearl

locket that my mother wore most of the time.

My mother told me more than once

that she "never got over" the loss of her mother.

And this.

  

A legacy in the form of 

a heart-shaped basket with a message on top

that speaks of inner strenght,

commitment and brave decisions ~

of leaving behind family, friends, and

everything familiar

for a call to a new beginning

It's tattered and fragile

 

but to me it's more than a keepsake;

it's my inheritance.

Worth more to me than diamonds and gold;

it's an intangible gift passed 

from generation to generation

Each time I study it

I'm inspired and encouraged all over again.

 

And it's my Valentine gift to you ~  xo

Counting my blessings,

Susy

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