China.

When Dean and I got married, we did what every couple does- stand in the middle of Macy's and argue about what kind of china we were going to register for.  Okay, not really.  Dean sat on a chair sighing heavily while I debated what type of china to register for. 

I was encouraged to register for expensive china as it would be my chance to get what I really wanted- being fresh out of college and relatively poor, etc.. But I felt guilty registering for china that would only be used periodically and sticking it to my wedding guests.  So I went with an oh-so-practical choice.  However, I regret that now.  I think I would rather have registered for the Lenox china I really wanted and not gotten any at all.  I do have a complete set of a very nice, utilitarian set- it is white bone china from Noritake with a white lattice pattern around the edge and a gold rim.  Very plain, elegant, will never go out of style. 

But here is the deal.  When I was a kid- I loved Thanksgiving at Grandma's house.  I loved setting the table(my job) with her china.  It was probably some inexpensive stuff that gave us all a touch of lead poisoning but it had beautiful pink cherry blossoms and green vines.  I can see the pattern in  my head as clear as day.  In my child's mind, they were princess plates- fit for royalty and absolutely beautiful.  I associated those plates with the closeness of family- all of us gathered around a makeshift table since Grandma's only had one leaf to seat 8 and there were 10 or 12 always.  But she put on a table, did she ever.  Crystal and a crisp white table cloth, hand knit lace in the center with some crazy floral arrangement she did herself that was amazing.  My grandmother, for her blue collar roots, had class in her little finger to compare with some manhattan penthouse matriarch. 

I wish I'd gone crazy and gotten some china that my girls would look at and say "Ooo, this is soooo beautiful!"  I know I cannot recreate the past for them, but for me- that sticks out.  Makes me want to splurge and buy a full set of a crazy Versace china pattern and then eat on it every day.  Yeah, maybe that is what I'll do.  And I want it in blue.  And it's going to have flowers on it. Roses, even.

Life is too short not to use the good china.

Comments

[Marg]

You know, I think maybe we should all wait to register until our 13 and half anniv. That way we're past two 7 yr itches, and all the better to understand our own tastes. Many times at 22 or 23, we are just trying to copy our parents or go completely in the opposite direction, either way,we end up with table dressings that don't fit. BTW I love my grammie's china, it came over on the wagon train and it has "blue borders." love ya to China and back, M

[Marg]

meant 14 and half.