Monday, December 3, 2007

Moving & the "Family Crystal"

My husband Brian & I have moved 5 times since we've been married. After Brian & I were married, my Grandmother gave me the "Family Crystal". Each time we have moved, the crystal is the last thing I pack and that's on the day of the move. I wrap it carefully in bubble wrap & put it in wine boxes that have the individual holes were wine bottles should be. I then put them in the car on the passenger side, that's the way it's gone 5 times. The crystal is about 70 years old and I get nervous using it. The reason that the thought of breaking this crystal causes such anxiety for me outside of obvious, is because I believe that a little part of Grandmother would never be able to forgive me, I would also hear about it as long as my Grandmother had breath left in her body. For example: about 23 years ago Grandmother had a vase that she loved. It sat on her mantle where everyone could see hen they walked in the house, including herself. Anyhow, it was early on a Saturday morning and I was in my room playing w/ my Barbies. I heard a loud crash and Grandmother scream, I ran into the living room to see what happened. Broken blue glass was everywhere and the vase was no longer on the mantle. I didn't have to ask what happened Grandmother offered the intel up freely. "K.C. broke the vase", she said. K.C. was our Calico cat and like most cats she loved to sit high & look low. Now... 23 years later in 2007 she's still upset about K.C. breaking her vase. Surely if I were to cause the crystal to break, the very last words from her death bed would be: "Jaime let the crystal break", and she'd go on to Glory. As I write this, I'm not even sure that I want the crystal anymore, it's just too much pressure. I'll keep it though because that's the lot in life that I've been cast, the crystal is in my Will. Should I die before Brian, all family heirlooms, including the crystal goes to my Mother. If I hadn't already done that and I were to pass, there could potentially be trouble. Also, I have to admit, as the live person I am right now, the thought of Brian remarrying and that woman using my families stuff doesn't sit very well w/ me. After I'm dead, I'm positive I won't care but Wills are for the living anyway not the dead.