Pink Linen
In 1952 my parents were married in Germany, two days before Christmas.
They were given this hand painted Irish linen table cloth and napkin set as a wedding gift.
It has never been out of the box, until today, when I decided to iron it and share it with you.
The original paper tag and ribbon was still tied around it, the tissue paper crispy and yellowing, the box smelling slightly musty.
The cloth and napkins are in perfect condition, except for permanent crease marks, from it having been folded and in a box for 57 years. The colors are still strong, the fabric soft and clean.
I've always admired it. During my visits home, I would often sneak a peak of it folded carefully in it's box in the dining room hutch. I loved to feel the weight of the silky smooth fabric between my fingers, and I liked the colors and the design. I have always wanted it, but could never bring myself to ask for it.
Neither one of my parents could understand why I would be interested in "such an old thing". I couldn't understand why they weren't, and why my mom never used it. I would try to convince her to to take it out when she gave a luncheon for her lady friends. We have always been so different, she and I. Mommy only liked new, modern things. 
Two years ago, way too soon, my mom passed away. Sometime later, my dad gave me the table cloth.
I couldn't take it out of the box, until today.
It reminded me too much of my mother, and how different we were, and how difficult it often was for us to understand each other.
It reminded me too much of how much I miss her, every day.
I don't know if I can use the table cloth, or if it will go back into it's box. But I do know in spite of our differences, my mother loved me and always wanted the best for me. And if I had gotten up the nerve to ask her for the pink box with the table cloth in it, she would have gladly given it to me. Because she always wanted me to be happy, and she taught me to live life fully, and to enjoy beautiful things. I know I will always miss my mom. And I will always treasure the table cloth, in or out of the box.
April 24, 2010:
Three years is a long time to live without a mom.
Even though I'm all grown up and a mother myself, I still feel like I need her.
People say it gets easier as time passes, and that may be true.
But occasionally I find myself tearing up at unexpected moments, remembering things about her that made me laugh, or a small, kind thing she'd do for me.
Occasionally I find myself thinking "I've got to call mommy and tell her about this".
Occasionally I find myself gazing at a photo of her, or trying to remember how her voice sounded, or I hear myself saying something she always said.
As I get older, I am starting to look more like her.
As I get older, I am starting to appreciate her more.
As I get older, I realize I will always miss her.
Three years, or any number of years at all, is a long time to live without her.
In memory of my Mother July 24, 1926 -April 25, 2007
Until next time
XO
Heidi
20 comments:
This is such a touching post, Heidi. I feel so many of the same emotions as you do, as my mom passed away several years ago. It never gets easier. We just learn to live without the people we love, knowing our lives are richer having known them.
The tablecloth is lovely, How nice that your father passed it down to you. I hope you use it and enjoy it.
xoxo
Jane
Oh Heidi, what a beautiful post.I can so relate to the part that as one grows older one starts doing the same things our mothers used to do.
My heart goes out to you hon.
Oh Heidi, this post touches me at a time when I needed it most. My mother passed 13 years ago last week. We were quite different also and there was a good year after my parents divorced that we didn't speak. We slowly rebuilt our relationship and even though it wasn't perfect, I loved her. I still love her and I miss her so much. I had so many questions that I wanted to ask her about her pregnancy when I was pregnant with my Jemma. Like you, there are some days where I still think I need to call her. I just know she would have adored Jemma and I am so sad that Jemma will never get to be with her and experience the love that her grandma would have had for her. Jemma knows her though. We have pictures and I am always sharing stories. She even says that her Grandma Judy is her guardian angel. I know she is mine.
I love this post, and I love the picture of you girls at Heidelberg. I have several shots from that same viewpoint. What wonderful memories that you have.
Thanks again for this post. It has truly touched my heart.
Heidi, your post was so sweet. I think that some of the things you said were true for many of us. Love our moms but we don't always understand each other. My mom and I are very, very different from each other. I do appreciate some of the traits that she instilled in me.
I hope you will use the table cloth and napkins. Someone meant for them to be loved and used.
A lovely post! I'm so glad that your dad gave the table cloth and napkins to you and I hope they make many more beautiful memories for you. The relationship between mother and daughter isn't always perfect, but there is no one like a mother in our hearts.
Hi Heidi,
My Mom was born July 25, 1914 and she just died last August 25, 2009. She was 94 years and 1 month old. I still haven't been able to visit friends she made where she lived in a retirement home. Like you, I find myself reaching for the phone to call her. We got along very well--both with a goofy sense of humor so we'd see something funny in almost any situation. I have so many wonderful memories of times together. She gave me unconditional love which was her very greatest gift of all. I hope you use the tablecloth, and not just for a "special" occasion. Mom and I felt every day was special and didn't worry about celebrating on "the" day. Birthdays could last for a week, and a "holiday" could be any day we decided to celebrate it. So this Mother's Day I'll remember both our Moms with a smile. When we get to have our "Tea Time" on your patio, we can remember both of them with love and happy memories. You have a wonderful Mother's Day, Heidi. CJ
Heidi, What a beautiful post and what a truly beautiful tablecloth. Thanks for sharing with us.
Suzy
This is just so heartwarming! Thanks for sharing such a beautiful post!
Hugs from Wanda Lee
Hi Heidi,
This really is a tear jerker of a post! Thanks for sharing this with us. My Mom is still alive, my Dad passed away 3 years ago and it seems amazing to me how long it's been since I've seen him. You will touch a lot of people with this wonderful story about your Mom. I love the tablecloth and the pic of you with her is really awesome~
Cindy
Oh Heidi~~~ what a beautiful and touching post and that picture of your Mom and you girls..it just amazing!!
Have a lovely weekend and always treasure the memories and keep them alive!~~
Kay Ellen
What a beautiful touching story you told us Heidi. Wonderful that you could finally open the box with the beautiful tablecloth. Have a happy Sunday
I understand your emotions attached to the lovely tablecloth, and I'm so glad that you have finally got it out of it's box! Please use it and celebrate the differences and all the love between you and your Mom.
Heidi,
This is such a beautiful and touching post. I so understand about missing a mother. Mine passed away in '03 and she had been very ill for years before ~ the last year or so not even knowing what was going on. That was the worst! Even though it had been a long time since I had removed the phone from her room since she could not communicate, I still felt urges to call. I'd start to pick up the phone and then realize what I was doing. The loss of a parent, especially our mothers, leaves a huge void in our lives.
I so hope that you choose to use the tablecloth and napkins. They are very pretty and something I think you would enjoy! Not using things reminds me of that poem by Erma Bombeck...written after she found out she had cancer...and urging us to use the 'good' stuff. :-)
Thank you for sharing from your heart today!
xoxo
Pat
P.S. I'm a 2nd Mom to many ~ you are welcome to join the ranks!
Hello Heidi...
What a sweet and endearing post, my friend...and a wonderful tribute to your mother! I am so sorry that you lost her 3 yrs. ago, my condolences!!! I still have my mother, and even though we live 1200 mls. apart, I can't imagine losing her! Ohhh my, you're going to have me tearing up! Your vintage tablecloth and napkins are sooo very beautiful! They would be perfect for the new spring season with their soft pastel colors! But I certainly understand your reservations of using them! How sweet of your father to give you these pretty linens...such a sweet treasure for sure!!! Thank you so much for sharing this sweet, sweet post with us today for Sunday Favorites, Heidi! It touched my heart strings...I think I need to give my mom a call today!
I also wanted to thank you for joining in with Sunday Favorites this week, Darlin'...especially since I'm celebrating Sunday Favorites "One Year" birthday! I enjoyed your sweet note and well wishes...thank you!!!
Have a super Sunday and best wishes with the gift card giveaway!
Chari @Happy To Design
Heidi I was so touched by this wonderful tribute to your Mother. She was very beautiful. The tablecloth and napkins are just gorgeous and it's nice that your Father gave them to you knowing how much you loved them.
I lost my Father in September and did a tribute post to him. I'm so glad I did because now I can go back and read it and look at all of the pictures. It somehow makes me feel better since he's not around for me to talk to anymore.
The tablecloth is just beautiful....but writing the wonderful words about your mom was so sweet....I lost my Mum the day after Christmas a year and a half ago. I can sooo relate.
Warm blessings,
Spencer
Wonderful post! I too love linens and find it hard to bring them out of storage... I still have my mother- she
is 84. Happy Sunday!
What a beautiful post! I am a new follower and will be back to catch up! Thanks for sharing and have a blessed day.
Juanita
My parents moved in with me when they retired in 1996. Dad passed away four years ago, but my mother is still with us. At 81, she's lost some vision, some hearing, and some mobility. Still, she gets up every morning before I leave for work to make sure I take my lunch with me.
The little things that make a relationship.
I treasure the time we have had and hope to have many more years.
I'm quite certain your mother knows you miss her and watches over you from that special place that is our true home. When the time comes, hers will be the first face you see. I'm confident that she's very happy that the tablecloth and napkins have a home with you. But, the best part is the memories we carry in our hearts.
Dear Heidi,
You certainly do match the upscale Irish rayon & cotton tablecloth and napkins. They are so beautifully woven in an intricate damask pattern! Probably it was more the "Angst" of using them, that kept your Mom from taking them out of their boxed home. Can you still ask your Dad where they came from? There might be more to that for the deeper lying reason. Sometimes things are given for such a special reason that it is like losing that dream of something that perfect once we start using them. Unveiling its beauty and throwing away the wrapping material.
But you can do and should do that as it is superior quality, one that only now will be available at stores like Neiman Marcus or Bergdorf Goodman and Yves Delorme the French upscale linens. http://www.yvesdelorme.com/ will teach you some more insight...
The deep creases will go out if you launder them and iron them moist; that will make the job a breeze. Just tumble dry on hand-iron and take them out right away for ironing on cotton setting and maybe a little lower for the rayon part in the fabric. You will love doing that! This kind of damask has a very nice hand, almost like silk. You will want to caress it after ironing... still warm it comes to live! So enjoy it and think about your Mom. Ask your Dad though from where such royal gift has come! Considering the time 1952 post WWII there must be quite some story with it...
Loved this story and I'm born only some 7 hrs north west of Heidelberg... in Limburg/The Netherlands.
Lots of love from Georgia,
MariettesBacktoBasics
PS If you need more info about proper care; just ask... it is my job. On my website you can find it under Learn from Mariette.
Free advise but with pleasure and I can see your Mom smile down at us!
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