If you read my last post “I’ve Never Been to Italy”, you’ll know I ended it with a photo of this Italian cookie jar. Read on for the story behind the cookie jar.
My siblings and I used to love to go to the local “shopping center” first to the drug store to sit at the counter, spin around on the stools, and drink a cherry coke. When we finished that, we found the toy store where we spent hours dreaming of our next birthday or Christmas wish list. I dreamed of more Barbie clothes. My older brother checked out the model planes. My younger brother checked out the Hardy Boys books he hadn’t read yet and I don’t remember what my younger sister oogled.
One year, we decided to get my mother a very special gift so we found ourselves in the jewelry store between the drug store and the toy store. Mr. N., the owner of the store, wasn’t surprised to see us. He had three kids and his oldest was a friend of mine so I had been to his house several times. For Mom’s gift, first we thought of a charm, but it occurred to us my mother didn’t have a charm bracelet. Then I eyed the colorful, ceramic house. It reminded me of Madeline’s house. You know “In an old house in Paris all covered with vines, lived twelve little girls in two straight lines.”
“What is it?” I asked.
“It’s a cookie jar,” Mr. N. replied. “See it’s from Italy,” he pointed this out flipping the house upside down so I could view the Italian markings.
I loved it and convinced my brothers and sister that should be our gift. “How much is it?” we asked. The response was more than we could pay. “I can put it away for you,” Mr. N. suggested until you save up your money.” So for several weeks we returned to pay on our gift. Besides we knew it and our secret were safe in his store. Imagine my dad’s surprise when we told him about our secret gift asking him to drive us to the jewelry store to pick up the gift for Mom. We just knew it may not be safe in a bicycle basket.
My mother loved the cookie jar, so much it stayed behind the glass doors of her dining room hutch. “Hrumph,” no cookies for that jar. Then we moved to FL. Enter Vivian the decorator who coordinated aqua drapes, blue/green carpet and a hint of aqua in the wall paint for the living room/dining room.
“What’s this?” she asked eyeing the cookie jar. “Hmmmm, it has just the right colors.”
“It’s a cookie jar the kids gave me when we lived in TX,” my mother answered. “I don’t like to put it out because I’m afraid they might break it.”
“Things must be used,” Vivian told her. “They won’t break it.”
Thank you, Vivian. Sure enough, here it is on my mother’s kitchen counter some 50 years old and still not chipped, cracked or broken and always a cookie inside.
It’s a fine cookie jar, too. My first thought was, “It’s big!” My second thought was, “It looks easy to get into!” What more do you need in a cookie jar?
Yours has a fine third quality, of course. It’s also beautiful and appealing. I’m glad the decorator got it out from behind the glass doors of the hutch.
I’m especially amused because I woke in the middle of last night with a related insight. I have my new car, Princess, of course, but I’ve been driving Mom’s old car for work – no need to worry about getting it dusty inside, etc. A week ago that old car developing a truly horrifying noise under the hood. I looked at it, made a sudden decision that it was well past time to get rid of it, said to it, “No more money for you!” and called Kars 4 Kids. Presto! The old car’s gone, and I’m rearranging my life.
The insight was this. My mother always kept the “good” china, crystal, silver and such behind the doors of her hutch. They were brought out for Christmas and Easter, and perhaps for a birthday. But they never were used and enjoyed. I’d been doing the same thing with my new car – keeping it for “good”! How crazy is that? Cookie jar or car, the material pleasures of our lives are meant to give us pleasure and to have new memories attached to them through use. Or so I think!
When Vivian insisted “that cookie jar must be used”, that was all it took for my busy mother to give it some extra thought toward using it. We kids had viewed that cookie jar behind the glass doors, longing for it to come out. When it did, I’m not sure how it happened that it met no mishap. I guess, everyone made a collective effort to take care of it.
Downsizing and getting rid of stuff continues to happen in layers. It’s amazing with each passing year, how much easier it is to dispose of more things. I think I recognize your realization and dream.
Proof kids can be careful with things with sentimental value. this is a good lesson in respecting property, too. My mom used to keep loads of breakable china (my Gram’s stuff) but would always let us kids use it and play with it, and we knew to be very gentle with it. For my daughter’s birthday, I took out that same china teacups and saucers, and let seven 4 year old girls drink juice out of it. They were so dainty and loved every second of their ‘real’ tea party. I have loads of pictures of the event and it truly makes me smile to know they were using the same china my grandmother used. And not a single chip!
It makes me smile that you shared “real” teacups and saucers with your daughter and her little friends. By setting the tone, kids will follow and know how to behave. Those are the risks worth taking for such memorable results. Once they pass the “I don’t break things” stage, many other things may just stay in tact too. Valuable lesson, Darla, without preaching the lesson.
What a beautiful and unique cookie jar; I loved the story that went with it. I have a few treasures that I have let my grandchildren hold b/c I want them to learn how to handle such things. It’s not done without some anxiety, though.
My Mom’s had some health issues of late and one sister has already started commenting on what stuff she wants … ugh .. I want my Mom to live a healthy happy life for as long as possible. But your post reminded me that there is one teeny little musical teacup in her hutch that I’ve always loved and perhaps I might convince her to leave it to me.
A sentimental post that made me smile,
MJ
I wish your mother good health. I know you must have her in your thoughts daily. The thoughts of things that speak to us of happy memories perhaps assuage the reality of health issues.
I read a post this past week on FP criticizing nostalgia, and calling folks to live in the here and now. I would argue that finding the words to our nostalgia, take us back to our roots, a very important ingredient in parenting, I think–giving our children a sense of where they come from. Having roots is not something I take for granted. Indeed we stand on the shoulders of many that can be remembered, appreciated and acknowledged.
I’m glad this made you smile. 🙂
oh, that is neat! what a great gift that keeps on giving. 🙂
You’ve got that right — in cookies! 🙂
I am finally back in the world of ‘reading blogs’. Oh how I have missed your stories, Georgette. I am glad the cookie jar is now out for all to see and use. The fact that you kids had to make payments makes the story all the more special, in my opinion. This was a gift from the heart.
Have missed you and am impressed you kept up the morning dailies — where I start my day when I’m not on the road. So glad you caught this one. Welcome back.
What a lovely and living memory. Perfect, Georgette!
Thanks, Elyse. It’s a compliment coming from you…much appreciated.
I commented to MJ this morning, I read a post this past week on FP criticizing nostalgia, and calling folks to live in the here and now. I would argue that finding the words to our nostalgia, take us back to our roots, a very important ingredient in parenting, I think–giving our children a sense of where they come from. Having roots is not something I take for granted. Indeed we stand on the shoulders of many that can be remembered, appreciated and acknowledged. Just hope my siblings, the girls, nieces and nephews are reading this stuff. Interestingly, they comment when I talk with them. I know my mother is and she does comment from time to time. It thrills me to know she enjoyed X piece.
I can only imagine those are the sweetest cookies you have ever tasted…
They are, jeanne, especially at Christmas. 🙂
A beautiful gift, a beautiful cookie jar and a beautiful story. I suspect it will give the gift of yummy cookies and family memories for generations to come!
Thank you, Carol. Yes, I think it will. It strikes me even to this day, as a timeless piece.
I love your stories Georgette. You remember so many details, that make them seem as if they happened last week. I’ve never seen such a beautiful cookie jar and its still in such perfect condition! No doubt you kids were very careful with it because you all bought it!
Thank you, Rosie. This was fun to write and remember. I want my daughters, nieces and nephews to know its story.
What a special story, Georgette! Oh, the memories you have every time you look at (or get a cookie from) that jar!
Thank you, Dianna. It has certainly followed us around as my parents moved with the space industry…intact. 🙂
Great story and lovely cookie jar, Georgette. I completely understand your mother’s reticence to use something so treasured, but I’m like you and getting to the stage that I don’t want to save things anymore. Most of the things that I have a sentimental attachment to are not things that mean anything to my children, so why don’t I just use them? If they break, they break. Better to be broken while enjoying them than to have them sitting in a cupboard untouched or even disposed of later on. Your post reminds me of that.
Silly me, Susan. I actually think my children, nieces and nephews want to know the story behind the cookie jar. I will be gratified if any of them can repeat the story, i.e. its history. Perhaps at an upcoming wedding, Thanksgiving or Christmas they will be able to inform others. Thank you for reading and understanding.
This is a lovely cookie jar, and what a wonderful story behind it. You should write the story, the Provenance, which you have done, to go with it so it won’t be lost or forgotten. I’m thankful for Vivian’s wisdom in using it.
Patti, perhaps I can find out more about its origins by checking out its markings. hmmmm…hadn’t thought of going even further beyond the jewelry store. Thank you for the idea.
[…] georgettesullins asked: […]
I remember spinning on those lovely padded stools. What a unique cookie holder. No wonder your mom loved it.
We loved combing the shopping center, Amy. The drug store sold many a cherry coke from their soda fountain.
Now that is one beautiful cookie jar with lots of loving and tender memories. The stories are as sweet as each cookie bite!
I’m glad you enjoyed this story, IT.
It IS very much like Madeline’s house in Paris! A lovely post and a lovely cookie jar – two of my favourite things 🙂
Thank you, Zen and Genki.
I used to collect cookie jars but no more. Eat the cookies so fast don’t need a place to store them.
hha…I think you have another idea for a cartoon. Where are all those cookie jars now? Garage sale fodder? I checked ebay once for the perfect cookie jar. I was so overwhelmed with choices, I never got one, but daughter #1 did get me a cute one for Christmas baking. Thank you for visiting and so glad you have electricity. Ike knocked us out for 9 days!