The Gift

My mother has never been a giving person.  The only way she

would give you something is if she traded you something of 

less value for something she wanted of yours of more value.

For example, there was a diamond ring I purchased while in

college while working in a store that carried fine jewelry.  

She had always admired the ring.  I needed a rocking chair

when my first child was born so that I may rock her to sleep.

My mother had the perfect plan.  She found an old black 

rocker in the attic . . .  she would trade me the ring for it.  

I was desperate and poor, so I foolishly made the trade.

At the time, rocking my baby was more important than

the ring.  This was a decision that I regretted and somehow

never got over.

When we moved her into assisted living this past August,

we were advised to remove her jewelry from her room.  

I finally had my ring back. . . . but upon finally having it

back . . .  it wasn't the same . . .  the memories of the trade

tarnished the ring . . . therefore I gave it to my jeweler for 

the value of the gold.  I could not look at the ring and think

happy thoughts, it only brought back the memory of the

unfair trade and the way my mother really is.

I don't remember gifts she gave me as a child, but the one

gift that she gave me has given me so much more.  She 

taught me how to sew and create.  I have been asked when

I learned to sew . . .  my answer is . . . I don't remember a 

time when I didn't sew.  I grew up to the hum of the sewing 

machine, our utility room, where my mother created, was

 right next to my bedroom.  She made everything!  

As a child, I didn't appreciate the homemade clothing.

I wanted "store bought" clothes!  I remember one time in my

childhood that I got a store bought dress.  Third grade . . .

Famous Barr Department Store. . . .yellow floral voile 

dress . . .  my favorite dress ever.  My grandmother had

passed away suddenly and there wasn't time to sew a 

dress.  We had to go shopping for a dress . . . that was

music to my ears.  I still remember going into the dressing 

room to try it on.  That was the first time I had ever tried a 

garment on that wasn't filled with straight pins, or felt her ice 

cold hands on my bare skin pulling the fabric to fit 

"just right".  

When I graduated high school from Pattonville High School in

1978, I was voted "Best Dressed" of a class of over 900 students.

Yes, with my hand sewn clothes that I had made, I was deemed

the best dressed of my class.  Really?  I couldn't believe it.  

The gift my mother taught me has given me the opportunity to

create so many beautiful things in my life.  I would not trade my

talent for any thing in the world.  It has brought me so much joy

to share with others.

 My joy has come when I see my granddaughter, Maggie,

wearing the dress I made for my daughter over 20 years before.  

 Or to take a $20 bench purchased on Craigslist and turn it

into an adorable accent for a precious little girl's room.

 And I see the potential in a sewing stool transformed

into an adorable ottoman complete with monogram.

 To be able to create a Christmas pillow from some 

upholstery strapping, burlap and some discarded ornaments.

Home sewing has been my passion for many years.

To create the unexpected with attention to detail is

what I enjoy the most.  My face will light up with an

idea to create . . . it doesn't get much better than this.  

My most rewarding creation was to be able to

make my daughters wedding gown.  My gift 

was given to my daughter and for a moment

I though of the gift that had been given to me

by my mother.  Thank you, Mom, for taking

the time to teach me to sew.