Last month was the end of the school year for my daughter’s class. They made the sweetest video about what they wanted to be when they grew up. My daughter said, “A ballerina”. Some others said astronauts, doctors… the usual. When I was little there was a time when I wanted to be a cashier. I got a little cash register when I was young and played with it non stop. My grandfather (Paw-Paw) owned Laundromats in New Orleans and would stop by our house some evenings and let me roll all of the quarters in papers for the bank. What a wonderful memory of doing that with him. I was fascinated with cash registers at the stores and of course, money. Counted my money in my piggy bank daily back then, spent a lot of it and saved some thanks to my parents.
Fast forward about 12 years; I got my first real job at a fashion retail store. Loved working with the clothes and doing the displays, but they ended up making me head cashier. I was fast, accurate and good at it, so good that, along with my merchandising talents, I managed a few stores in over 15 years, always working around those cash registers I was so found of. Who knew how that would benefit me? What is so wonderful about the cash register isn’t the machine or the money it’s the memory of my Paw-Paw and me sharing those moments together. I still think of those times when I see anyone counting money, it gives me a smile and giggle.
When you have anything in your home that has meaning for you, treat it with the respect it deserves and place it where it will reflect those happy memories. Keep in mind we don’t want to get too carried away with this. I find a lot of people feel that if something is given to them they must display it. If it means a lot, a shared memory, then definitely display it. If not don’t feel as if you have to, it is your home not theirs.
Some examples in my own home are ceramic jewelry boxes I made for my grandmothers. When each one passed away, I found the jewelry boxes in their drawers with their jewelry in them. I kept them because it still meant a lot to them years later. I keep them in a memory box with pictures and few cards that have meaning for me. From time to time, I like to go through them to think back. Another example is a bowl my Grandmother made her famous potato salad in. I have a modified version of the recipe that my family has me make on holidays. I use that bowl to honor her, my dishes actually coordinate with it because it does mean that much to me. Look around your own home to see if you have your memories shown or kept in a special way.
Here is a great way to display some special childhood memories from Real Simple
My favorite Nate Berkus Makeover where he helped a woman after the loss of her husband find a new beginning while still honoring his memory.. So inspiring… here is the link to it
Let the Sun Shine In
Here is my own piece I treasure, my Maw-Maw’s Potato Salad Bowl
Happy Decorating! Karen
