What I Have Learned - Take Thirteen

I have learned that I love sappy and sentimental.

In case you failed to notice, I am a girl. I'm not really the most girly of girls, but I'm not exactly a tomboy either. I've always fit somewhere in the middle - with most things anyway. That comes to a crashing halt when you talk sappy and sentimental. Because in that department - I am all girl.

My sister and I have divided all of my Mother's belongings already. She's not dead, she's not ill, she is not going anywhere anytime soon. That hasn't stopped us from dividing the goods (judge me later...). Anyway, there are two items I want most from my Mother's house. The first one is a teacup. It belonged to my Mother's Father. When he left home, his Mother gave him this teacup with the parting words 'wherever you go, always take a piece of home with you'. It isn't china, it isn't even pretty - but it had meaning. And it still has meaning. The second item is a blue glass set my Dad gave to my Mom on their first Christmas together. He saw it and thought it was beautiful. It was more money than he could afford, and nothing my Mom needed. It was the perfect 'thing'.

To me, both of these items represent love in the purest form. They aren't fancy, they have no monetary value. They are truly just items. But they make me teary eyed just thinking about them. They are sappy and sentimental. They are worth more than all the gold and gems my Mother possesses.

In my life, I will always choose heartfelt over expensive. My children learned about May Day one year. They went to my Mom and asked her to help them surprise me with May Day flowers. They went to the dollar store, all picked out what they thought I would like, and created this lovely flower basket. On May 1st, the snuck it to the front door, hang the bell, and ran away. I, with absolute surprise, found this amazing basket of flowers on my doorstep. It is a mix of colors and types, each of them had chosen their favorite, in a not very fancy basket. But you know what, it couldn't be any more beautiful. It is proudly displayed in my kitchen, where everyone who enters my house can see it. It remains, after all these years, one of my most cherished possessions.

I'm all sentimental and sappy when it comes to a relationship as well. I find it romantic to receive the little things. I have a tiny green heart made from a spare piece of wire that holds a special place in my heart. I have trinkets and treasures abound, some just random little items given to me 'just because'. Of everything I have ever been given in a relationship, the thing I cherish most is a four page, hand written, love letter. It is the sweetest, most heartfelt sentiment of love I have ever seen in my life. It makes my heart smile.

Several months ago, I went on a date to the Majestic Theater. We were dressed up for the occasion, and planned on dinner at the restaurant next door to the theater. It was a very fancy night out on the town. We had some time to kill before our reservations for dinner and went for a walk. We went into a bar for a drink. In the back, they had an arcade crane machine with stuffed animals. My handsome date pulled out a dollar, and succeeded in winning me a cute little puppy. It was such a sweet gesture, one of those spur of the moment things. But it was my 'awwwwww' moment. Forget the dinner, the show, the magical evening. That little puppy captured my heart.

So for this girl, sappy and sentimental will win every time. If you tell me about some fancy jacket you just bought, I won't find that very impressive. If you tell me about how you are saving your favorite teddy bear for your own child, my heart will be filled with emotion. Don't buy me diamonds, they are just rocks that glitter, instead frame the tickets from our first date. Possessions come and go, it is what remains in the heart that matters most. I know that is sappy and sentimental, but that is who I am...