Prized Possessions

One of the most influential women in my life was my MamMaw Ritter. I've written about her many times. There is not a room in my home that does not include something from MamMaw. When MamMaw died it was just too hard for me to get rid of her stuff. I thought about selling it in a garage sale but I knew how offended I would be should someone offer a nickel for something I felt was a treasure. I kept everything I could possibly keep.

I believe that every bit of my creativity comes from the Ritter gene. My MamMaw was so creative. She was a seamstress to envy and a cook comparable to none. Another gene I inherited from her is my flare for style. She had an amazing flare for style and she is the one who created the shoe monster in all the women in my family. Maybe not just women. My son, Joshua, has as many shoes as most women. My grandson, Josiah, is not far behind and is only 5. Yes, we love shoes -- thank you very much, MamMaw.

MamMaw also taught me: never wear white shoes before Easter and never after Labor Day; your shoes should always match your hem; purse and shoes must match; black patent is ok yearround; never wear a necklace with a broach; fishnet hose can only be worn with certain outfits and you must never color in the squares with a ball point pen during church no matter how boring the sermon; hats must never be worn straight -- they must be "cocked" to the side"; belts must match shoes; and the list went on.

Funny thing: NONE of these fashion rules apply. It seems to be a new statement to wear shoes that do not match your outfit and we NEVER match our purse to our shoes. If you live in Texas and it is 90 + degrees, you should be able to wear white shoes no matter what month it is. Fishnet hose are worn by people who stand on corners these days. However, in 4th and 5th grade I recall having a pair in every color. When I wear a hat it is usually a ball cap and I wear it backwards.

Lately, I seem to be on a purse kick. I love purses. The bigger the better and the crazier the color is my favorite. I change purses almost daily which drives my friends nuts. It caused my son inlaw, Jeremy, a little grief once. He came into church while I was on the platform practicing for choir. He got a piece of gum out of my purse only to find out half way through church, it was not my purse. It belonged to another lady in choir who saw the whole thing and later gave Jeremy permission to go through her purse any Sunday for gum.

My sister, Lisa, is an amazing floral designer. She has that creativity gene as well. I had a purse of MamMaw's that I just could not part with. When she died I kept it, along with one exactly like it, given to MamMaw by her sister, my Aunt Margie. One of the purses was broken and none of us knows which one was MamMaw's and which one was Aunt Margie. All we know is that one was for spare parts. I took one to Lisa and told her I wanted her to make me a floral arrangement in it. When I got to her house and saw one of her tea sets I felt she needed the other too. This is a picture of one of my most prized possessions. It's MamMaw's purse with Lisa's floral arrangement.

Ain't life good?!?!?