It may be over 13 years since my son Steven, in his infinite wisdom, decided to end his association not only with me but all our family. Yes, of course, it saddened me and often comes back to confound me most unexpectedly. I have learned to live with his decision and have virtually given up any hope that he and I will ever be reunited.
I still have many happy memories of my son as a little tike and in later years with his lovely wife and their two children. Happy times, happy photographs. all of which I enjoy having a peek at from time to time.
There is a wee keepsake I have that I still use. When Steve was about 12 or 13 he and some of his mates went to the rubbish tip in Mosman Park near where we lived (a very small local tip if I remember rightly) scavenging, as boys will do. When he arrived home Steve proudly presented me with this little pin cushion in the shape of a crown that he had found at the tip:
It was very clean so I had no hesitation in using it. There once was a tiny tape measure in its base but that little tape is long gone. There is also a little thingie on top that I think at one time probably held a large pearl or similar object. It is faded and worn but still the best pin cushion I have ever owned. It's been with me now for well over forty years.
I was using it today when taking up a couple of pairs of Phil's new trackpants. He and I have both shrunk a couple of inches over the years and he doesn't have long legs anyway so his trousers always need a few inches snipped from the bottom of the legs.
Love it. And the memories it holds as securely as the pins.
ReplyDeleteOld and faded but still so special to me.
Deleteit's a lovely little pin cushion, probably was only thrown away because the tape measure was gone. Have you thought of gluing another pearl in the centre?
ReplyDeleteI have to take up all my pants too, usually about 5 inches. They seem to all be made for seven foot tall people these days.
It is so useful still. The tape measure was intact when I first had the pincushion but broke and was too tiny to be useful.
DeleteI think Yamini may be correct when she mentioned it could be there to hold a thimble. If I can find a thimble I will see if it fits in there.
What is it these days about all trousers being far too long (except for people over 6ft perhaps). I know some people have very long legs but they are in the minority.
Now I see men (well dressed men) with their trousers concertinaed around their ankles which to be is not a well dressed look. Just looks sloppy to me. One day when out must check out females and see if they too wear their trousers wrinkled around their ankles!!
I think it's just easier and cheaper for manufacturers to make one or two standard lengths, regular and petite, and let the buyer take care of adjustments. I know Target now has a "short" range in their pants section, if I buy from there I only have to take things up two or three inches. Sometimes just rolling the cuff will do.
DeleteActually I believe Target have had 3 lengths in their ladies trousers for some years but I don't shop at Target so have never checked it out.
DeleteI'm so glad you have a lovely memory and a keepsake. What a lovely story. x
ReplyDeleteThank you PPMJ. Life sometimes hands out these little niceties. x
DeleteHari Om
ReplyDeleteWhat a treasure from the trash!!! Could I posit the possibility, given it once carried a tape measure, that it might have been completed on top with a thimble? The look of the 'thing in the middle' is that it would be slightly flexible and would hold a thimble firmly...
Family are strange critters; we just have to make sure our end of the Love stays intact. YAM xx
It is a little beauty. Actually the tape measure was intact when the pincushion arrived home but broke some years later.
DeleteYou could well be right about the place for a thimble (clever thinking) and I must dig around in my sewing bx and see if I still have one to pop in there.
I know of many people who have what are known as 'dysfunctional" families. One wonders why and it is very seldom that question is answered.
Life is too short to dwell on the past and it would seem that is what my son was doing resulting in our estrangement. He and I had never actually 'fallen out' out over anything but I feel something must have been simmering away in his mind which suddenly took on far too much importance.