My favorite vintage item is my Grandmother’s compact. This is a somewhat long story but I’ll try to make it shorter. My Grandmother Marks found this compact when she was sixteen. I don’t know where or how she found it but that’s okay. She found it and she fell in love with it.
Time passed, Grandma grew up, got married and had her first daughter, Joy Belle, my mother. Grandma showed my mother the compact and Mom just fell in love with it. Grandma told her when she turned sixteen, she could have it. And when Mom’s sixteenth birthday arrived, the compact was wrapped and given as part of her birthday present. Mom kept the compact in a special place.
Once again time passed. Mom grew up, got married and had her first daughter, me, Patricia Irene. As a little girl I remember Mom showing me the compact. I fell in love with it. It almost seemed magical. Mom promised that when I turned sixteen, it would be mine. I couldn’t wait.
Once again time passed. Mom grew up, got married and had her first daughter, me, Patricia Irene. As a little girl I remember Mom showing me the compact. I fell in love with it. It almost seemed magical. Mom promised that when I turned sixteen, it would be mine. I couldn’t wait.
I grew up and turned sixteen. There wrapped in pretty paper was the compact. My mother hadn’t forgotten.
Time again passed. I grew into a woman, got married and had only one daughter that I was given the blessing to raise. Shannon Leigh was a wonderful child, a wonderful daughter. Sometime in her growing up, I showed her the compact. She fell in love with it. I told her the story I had been told and promised her when she turned sixteen, she could have it. It was wrapped in pretty paper on her sixteenth birthday. I almost believe the compact was in some way magical. All the girls in the family have loved it, loved the story behind it.
The story doesn’t end here. Time passed. Shannon grew up and married. She has a daughter, Sarah Ann. We showed Sarah the compact just a few days ago. She fell in love with it.
We told her the story of her great, great grandmother finding the compact. Of how it’s been passed to every first daughter in the family on her sixteenth birthday.
In seven years the compact will be given to Sarah. My daughter asked me once when she was young if I was sad to give it to her. I’m not sad at all. I’ve very thankful that I have had a daughter such as her to give it to and now she also has a daughter. I am linking up with, My Romantic Home, Colorado Lady for Vintage Thingie Thursday. Check out everyones vintage things and tell them how much you enjoyed visiting.
What a beautiful compact and a touching story!
what a wonderful legacy!! We have been doing it with a middle name MARIE,,,it is on the 5th generation already……this is wonderful, thanks for sharing!! from someone in Pa. that loves your blog…
Dear Anonymous,
I wish I could thank you personally for your comments. My email address is patricia8223@comcast.net. Please feel free to email me. I would love to hear from you. Pat.
Awww…Shannon Leigh here (daughter number four in the story above.) I have tears running down my face reading about our compact, and more importantly, the wonderful women in our family. I’m the one truly blessed to have such a wonderful mother, and I look forward to passing down the compact to my sweet daughter…
That’s a real heirloom now, and a great story.
Even though the compact is beautiful, the real story is of a family of women who are truly blessed with their own lovely tradition. Such a beautiful post.
Living it up at Lakewood,
Cindy
Thank you for sharing your family tradition. The compact is beautiful!
Beautiful! My grandmother had one or two of those and I cant for the life of me find it… I think my mom had it…maybe an aunt and now I dont know. sure wish I knew.
happy vtt
Wow! Wonderful story!
This is a wonderful story! I love that it is passed down when you turn 16 instead of waiting.
Amazing story! Quite touching!
The compact is quite a beauty too!
What a wonderful story. It is so very special that it has been passed down from generation to generation.
Cheers,
Jo
Did you post this before, or something really similar, or was that someone else? ‘Cause I’m having deja vu over here!!!
Such a sweet little item.
What a wonderful store and posting. I agree it is wonderful that it is passed down at age 16. thanks for sharing
What a wonderful story, and you can really tell this has been cherished by generations, it is in wonderful shape….loved this post. Happy VTT!
WOW what a beautiful post..and what a gorgeous little compact
)
How blessed to have a daughter, I have none to pass along my treasures to. I wonder who will care?
Wow, I’m tearing up with that story! What a special thing to share with the important women in your life. What a treasure!
Hello,
Such a sweet, sweet compact and even sweeter story behind it!! Thank you for sharing your family tradition. Vicki
Lovely story and precious heirloom that so many special woman can share and love.
What a sweet keepsake and wonderful story about the family heirloom.
Passing-down is such a gift.
Thank you so much for sharing, I thoroughly enjoyed; have
a GRAND weekend.
How very beautiful! And what a sweet story.
Jocelyn
http://justalittlesouthernhospitality.blogspot.com/