The veneer on the blonde wood dresser drawer was peeling off. Opening it, knowing it would be the last time, was so hard. I’d be putting my mom’s precious memories in some box in my attic now..
I opened the drawer slowly, holding my breath. Scarves, gloves, fancy handkerchiefs-and then I saw it, her button jar. I remembered my grandma’s button jars, in the drawer of her foot pedaled sewing machine. My own button jar was rarely used. My daughter’s didn’t have one, it was passe’-out dated-no more.
Memories-mom looking for that perfect button. A tear caught up with my smile.
sustainabilitea said,
November 15, 2012 @ 2:32 am
I have a button box, filled with the extra buttons that come with lots of tops these days. But if I ever lost one, it would be hellish trying to find a match in that mass!!
Sandra Bennett said,
November 15, 2012 @ 3:14 am
…such familiar sentiments we share of our mothers…
Mary Ann said,
November 15, 2012 @ 3:33 am
I love your line “A tear caught up with my smile.”
lenwilliamscarver said,
November 15, 2012 @ 4:45 am
I have a button jar to remind me of my grams no other reason I can’t sew a stitch but they sure are pretty to look at and have lingering precious memories.
Sandra said,
November 15, 2012 @ 8:46 am
I have a button jar too; must look for it. Nice take on the prompt.
wmqcolby said,
November 15, 2012 @ 8:53 am
Poetic. My mom had a button jar, too! Very nice.
stepheniemcpeake said,
November 15, 2012 @ 9:56 am
Memories are so precious, really lovely blog.
rochellewisoff said,
November 15, 2012 @ 12:10 pm
Ah the memories this brings back! One of the greatest fascinations of my childhood was my mother’s button jar. Some of them were quite unique and I loved to take them out and play with them.
Well crafted story.
beebeesworld said,
November 18, 2012 @ 4:05 am
I am honored by the response I got from this story! I really did go through my mom’s dresser and discover her button jar not too long ago-she passed in 2011. It was so nice to know that our families “button jar” history was one shared by so many people. Young folks who throw away old thing are missing out on a priceless memory for their children to someday enjoy!
Lori Lipsky said,
November 15, 2012 @ 4:40 pm
Time to go pour out the contents of my button jar and experience my own memories. I enjoyed the story. Thanks.
journalplace said,
November 15, 2012 @ 9:41 pm
Button jars were a treasure trove. Thanks.
jane tims said,
November 15, 2012 @ 10:35 pm
Hi. Nice post! I have a button jar and I actually use it. Buttons are great to fancy up a pillow. Jane
billgncs said,
November 16, 2012 @ 12:59 am
I like the idea of a button jar, I am going to start one.
readinpleasure said,
November 16, 2012 @ 2:36 pm
Very nice, Beebee. Good memories.
mari wells said,
November 16, 2012 @ 3:54 pm
My daughter has a button jar. My two other daughters want jars too. I loved the memories that come with them. Thank you for reminding me of it.
bridgesareforburning said,
November 16, 2012 @ 5:45 pm
Your story brought back some old memories of my mother and grandmothers lives. Great piece of nostagia, authenic in its details. Ron
Shirley McCann said,
November 17, 2012 @ 12:15 am
My grandma used to have a button jar. I tried keeping one, but couldn’t figure out what to do with them, so tossed it. Nice story.
Swirling Turnip said,
November 17, 2012 @ 2:09 am
This was deeply personal, I felt like I was watching something I shouldn’t, a precious moment one should have alone. VERY well done.
beebeesworld said,
November 18, 2012 @ 3:20 am
Thank you for your compliment and for reading my blog!
beebeesworld said,
November 18, 2012 @ 3:34 am
How thoughtful!I honestly had this experience recently, and it was wonderful to see the prompt that allowed to to tell the story and share it with others. Thank you for reading. beebeesworld
rich said,
November 17, 2012 @ 4:30 am
sometimes tears and smiles work together. sometimes not.
beebeesworld said,
November 18, 2012 @ 3:20 am
Your reply, in itself, left me fighting tears…..
rich said,
November 18, 2012 @ 3:42 am
me too.
shermangerherd said,
November 17, 2012 @ 3:18 pm
Button jar sits on top of the bookcase. Mom would be proud.
Douglas MacIlroy said,
November 17, 2012 @ 11:00 pm
Dear Beebee,
This was beautiful.. My mom had a button drawer and the memory of it is a memory of her. Thank you for that.
Aloha,
Doug
beebeesworld said,
November 18, 2012 @ 12:50 am
So nice that I opened up that box of memories, thanks for sharing with me the smile you received from reading it-best wishes, beebeesworld
________________________________
· Der Silbenschmied said,
November 18, 2012 @ 10:44 am
My first profession is tailor. You can imagine that we had loads of buttons. There were really seldom and precious buttons among them. Nacreous, Tagua nut, silver buttons and gold plated ones, also. The Father of my Master tailored uniforms in the Dirt Reich, so we had buttons from that decade, too.
You made me remember how I was sitting there, stitching buttonholes by hand. Three more or less stupid young women around me and my Master making funny noises: Chrk, Chrk, Smk and HrmbrmOoaach.
There was a dog that used to eat up the threads and pieces of leather laying on the floor. Sometimes it had to puke them out again.
It was so much fun!
My Grandma has had a box full of buttons and I still can hear her cursing, hoping that a curse may help to find one that fits.
I have – exactly – one (loose) button in my home. It fell from a Poloshirt a couple of days ago. I washed it and now the button is gone.
vb holmes said,
November 18, 2012 @ 1:31 pm
After reading Der Silbenschmied’s comment above, it’s hard to get back into the tender mood of your lovely poem, Beebee. Suffice to say, I, like the others, enjoyed the memories it evoked.
tedstrutz said,
November 18, 2012 @ 7:04 pm
Your last line was beautiful. Yes, times change as new generations come along… lovely told story.
beebeesworld said,
November 20, 2012 @ 2:01 am
Thanks for reading-it does bring back sweet memories beebee