Old. Very Old.

When my parents came to visit they brought me a gift.  Inside a delicately wrapped box was this ornament, which belonged to my Grandma Edna’s Grandma Caroline.  Grandma Edna gave it to my dad, and my dad gave it to me.  I cannot tell you how excited I am to have this beauty join our family for Christmas.  The ornament was always at the top of our tree at home, but the honest truth is that I had forgotten about it.  I didn’t even recognize it when it came out of the box, and my parents looked at each other like, “WHAT!?!  She doesn’t recognize it?”  I have come to the conclusion that this was primarily due to these factors:

A.  I haven’t been at home to decorate my parents’ Christmas tree for a very, very long time.

B.  I don’t remember ever really seeing the ornament up close and personal.  That’s how it was when I opened the box.  When I actually placed it at the top of my tree and looked at it when I was sitting on the floor, I remembered it!

In fact, the more I think about this ornament the more I do remember it. I remember every year my mom saying something about a really, really old ornament and placing it on the top of the tree.  I remember the unique hair on the ornament.  My parents said that one time I asked for it to be mine one day, which I didn’t remember  at first either!  But the more I think about it, I kind of DO remember asking about that.

Regardless, I am so happy to have this on my tree!  I look at it all the time!  I love every little scuff mark on it, and the chips and the uniquely painted face.  We think that my great-great-grandmother  (the great-great-great grandmother of my kids!) received it as a child, which would have happened in Germany.  It means that it is probably around a hundred and fifty years old or so, although we don’t know exactly.  I love that this ornament has come out for every Christmas for that many years.  I love imagining all the interesting moments this ornament has been privy to.

So, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU Dad!  I’m sorry I looked befuddled when I took it out of the box!