Saturday, July 7, 2012

Picking Up the Pieces





Some things are just so pretty. Aren't they?I bought this teacup for 20 cents at a thrift store about a year ago. Often, I had my morning coffee from it before work, admiring the size, the form, the violets, the way the light came through it, the way it fit perfectly in my hand, and how the gold rim inside, helped me feel a little important.

A month or so ago, it was precisely this admiration for this cup that prompted me to take its photo, perched, ever so perfectly on my tiny green table. Me being clumsy and all things impermanent, I thought, I might like to have a picture of it when it was gone. Maybe, I told myself, so as not to feel silly taking a picture of a cup, that I would some day learn to paint with watercolor and this might be my first subject.

Of course the cup broke; a casualty the other day, of the heavy tray from the grandbaby's highchair slipping off the counter and taking the cup with it. True to its image, it kept its dignity and didn't make a scene or even cry out when it broke. I was surprised to find it on the floor under the tray, in pretty pieces.

I saved the fragments of violets, where the cup one day, if I ever get the time, might find new life on a mosaic table top, or even as a pendent when I get better at my jewelry making. In fact it will give me more incentive to return to the creative things I love. When something is lost, something is found - I used to parrot this a lot once upon a time.  But the older I get, the more I get to live it, through monumental matters and in miniscule lessons, like the shattering of a perfect violet cup.


12 comments:

  1. When I break a favourite piece of China I always buy a plant and use the pieces to act as drainage in the bottom when I pot it up.
    That way I get to revisit the piece every time I repot something.

    Mosaic sounds good though.

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    1. I love that when you put something away, and rediscover it all over again when you least expect it. And in the bottom of the pot is like finding a bit of treasure.

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  2. You write so well I am happy to have found you.. I loved this piece and all you said.. good on you, mosaic does sound fun too!!

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    1. Hi! Thanks so much for stopping by,and for your nice words. I'm not so good at the mosaics yet, but I have lots of projects in my mind's eye.

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  3. I hate it when I break things.
    But I love your take on this little calamity.

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    1. Thanks Denise. I can't get too upset about breaking things, even things I really like, because I drop everything, slam without meaning to and knock things over on a regular basis. I am the guest that you hide the good china from.

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  4. I love your violets...my mom, whose name is violet, has that cup....bought at salvation Army....
    Go and find yourself another pretty cup that when you see it and hold it ..it surrounds you with joy
    there are more fish in the sea
    hug

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    1. she hates it...her birthday is the first dy of spring...she says her mother was corny for naming her that...but I rather like it too
      ..how you doing?

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  5. What a great post. I love the idea that your cup lives on and continues to bring you joy.

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