Mom was a saver

Thelma was sentimental. She’d saved so many of my favorite toys, books, artwork, cards, and dolls… even a confirmation dress and two prom gowns, in her basement and bedroom closets. When she passed away in 2013, I brought the boxes back to my house and tucked them away in a closet, intending to go through them later.

Recently I pulled out the Barbie suitcase that held Barbie and Midge and all the wonderful tiny treasures (roller skates, purses, phonograph, gloves, hats…) to show my granddaughter one rainy afternoon. Inside, to my delight, I discovered the most sentimental mementos ever.

Sweet Nostalgia

My mom loved to sew. She sewed clothes for herself and for me, and that love was passed down when she taught me to sew on an old Singer treadle machine.

I’d completely forgotten that she’d also sewed dresses for my Barbie Doll.

Inside the case, tucked in a large pocket, I found the dresses she’d lovingly hand-sewed for my dolls, using scraps from other projects. With her own two hands. With tiny neat stitches, seams and tucks and little silver snaps in the back.

I felt like a ten year old again, playing dress up with my Barbie and Midge on the living room floor in the ranch house in Independence, Ohio. My mother was in the kitchen, wearing her capris and a sleeveless button down shirt, watching Merv Griffin on a little TV on the counter, eating her standard lunch of Rye Krisp crackers, Muenster cheese, and coffee. What a sweet memory.

Here’s a sampling of my favorites:

I wish I could wish my mom a happy Mother’s Day in person. I’d tell her Your memory lives in all the little treasures you saved for me. Thank you for being so sentimental.

Thank you for visiting.

Linda K. Sienkiewicz is a writer, poet, and artist:

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