About twenty years ago when my husband and I became by default the oldest generation in our family, I found myself with a plethora of memorabilia. Some I gave to any of the younger generation who showed interest (which is why I have only one of my grandmother's wedding slippers,) some is displayed on walls and cabinets, some is filed away in trunks (three wedding dresses -- mine, my mother's, my grandmother's - what madness is this?)
This shadow box is one result of my trying to find things to do with this wealth of material -- it combines things from my family and John's family.
The eyeglasses and cameo were my grandmother's, as was the little crescent moon pin. ((I think she told me she bought it with money from her first paycheck.) And the stern-looking lady in the brass frame is her grandmother -- Eliza Horn, circa 1850.
My favorite thing is the letter in the lower left corner. It was written by John's grandfather on August 30, 1913 to Miss Fay Parker. Evidently her family had taken her to the beach for a "rest cure" and had forbidden Gene to visit, though family members could -- including a young male cousin who may have aspired to Fay's hand as well. In the inside of the letter, Gene mentions this cousin and says he may have to introduce him to "Sweetlips" -- Gene's name for his shotgun.
However the family may have felt about Gene, who was only two years out of high school, the fact is, as the wedding invitation shows, he and his 'Fairy' were married on October 21 of the same year.
And John and I attended their fiftieth anniversary party!
This shadow box is one result of my trying to find things to do with this wealth of material -- it combines things from my family and John's family.
The eyeglasses and cameo were my grandmother's, as was the little crescent moon pin. ((I think she told me she bought it with money from her first paycheck.) And the stern-looking lady in the brass frame is her grandmother -- Eliza Horn, circa 1850.
My favorite thing is the letter in the lower left corner. It was written by John's grandfather on August 30, 1913 to Miss Fay Parker. Evidently her family had taken her to the beach for a "rest cure" and had forbidden Gene to visit, though family members could -- including a young male cousin who may have aspired to Fay's hand as well. In the inside of the letter, Gene mentions this cousin and says he may have to introduce him to "Sweetlips" -- Gene's name for his shotgun.
However the family may have felt about Gene, who was only two years out of high school, the fact is, as the wedding invitation shows, he and his 'Fairy' were married on October 21 of the same year.
And John and I attended their fiftieth anniversary party!
And on the back of the shadowbox I put an envelope with a description of the various artifacts -- an aid to memory.
A good thing because I had to use it to write this post.
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