Courtesy: I Am Photograph

;

Anyone who knows me knows this: I love anything & everything vintage. As a matter of fact, that photograph above? I wish I had a hard copy of it!* That’s a fantastic photo.

*(I might have to print one out.)

I have a lot of vintage stuff, from postcards, decorations and china to knick-knacks and figurines. If I was to list all my vintage or antique items, you wouldn’t believe me. You’d think I was full of crap… that’s how much of it I have. I have vintage Lefton figures, vintage Japanese statues from the 1940’s stamped “Made in Occupied Japan,” I have vintage 1930’s dishes, 1960’s & 1970’s cookware, etc. I have a 1930’s metal cake carrier. I have a 1960’s Sunbeam mixmaster. I have a vintage crystal wine decanter that belonged to my great-grandmother. I have things that belonged to both of my great-grandmothers, actually, including my great-grandma Midge’s crocheted doilies & my great-grandma Mary’s Halloween decorations. I have my great-grandfather Duke’s German-made Christmas ornaments from the turn of the century. I have my grandparents’ Christmas decorations from the 1940’s/1950’s. To some, it might just be old junk. But not in my eyes. These things are all very important to me.

I also have something vintage that I’ve never photographed, or talked about, or even used before: My grandmother’s turkey platter. I had never seen it growing up, it was hidden away with her good silver in the buffet in her dining room. But two years before she passed away, I was helping her look for something & I found it. I gushed over how beautiful it was, genuinely, telling her I had just seen one in Williams-Sonoma that wasn’t as pretty… and she said, “Oh yes. You can use it if you like.” But I never did. I put it back.

;

I thought about using it, but I just didn’t. I don’t know why. Maybe I was afraid I’ll drop it & break it, like I did with my grandmother’s big vintage jadeite mixing bowl (which goes for around $100 now, shoot me). But it deserves to be used, not packed away. It only has a short window of time in which it’s useful. It should be showed off.

So that’s why this year- I’m going to.

And it got me thinking… if this plate hasn’t fulfilled it’s purpose in so long, what else hasn’t? Are we all fulfilling our purpose here, every day, whatever it may be? What is your purpose? Is my purpose in life to make people happy with baked goods & my little blog? If so, that’s a pretty sweet deal. Look- I’m not religious. I don’t believe in a God (or Gods). I’m actually a total bitch when it comes to most people & most situations… and I admit it. But I believe that ultimately, we’re here to help one another. I really do believe that we have a duty to our fellow living creatures to be kind & to help them, in any way we can. Big or small. Because what’s the point otherwise? If you see a neighbor in trouble, help them out. If you’re in trouble, ask for help. If this hurricane last month proved anything to me, it’s that some people are totally useless… but most people are really amazing. And deep down inside we all CAN be. It doesn’t take much to help someone in need. To donate a few bucks, or an old blanket or old clothes. Or that coat your kid won’t wear because it’s out of style. And today should be a day where we really think about that. Not just about what we’re thankful for, but are we being the best we can be in life? Are we really living? Life is too short as it is. No matter how old you are when you die, you’re too young. There’s never enough time for what we want to do. So are we taking advantage of every day?

Use your good china to serve take-out Chinese. Use the good crystal on a Monday night. Do that thing you’ve always wanted to do, don’t put it off. Buy the new TV- you can’t take your money with you when you go, and you might as well enjoy it while you’re here. Better yet, if you don’t want to blow the money on a TV… why not donate a few bucks to a charity of your choice. If you’re able to read this, then there are people that are far worse off than you who could really use a little help. Maybe your five bucks could do more good for someone else than it would buying your latte. Be kind to people. Everyone is going through something, and you might give the only kind words they hear all day. We all have bad days, and we all get cranky. Sometimes it’s downright bitchy. And we all make snap judgments to varying degrees. But catch yourself when you’re doing it, and give someone the benefit of the doubt. Lend someone a dollar if they need it. The whole “you only live once” thing is getting old now, I know, but it’s so true.

Bake someone a cupcake. Or better yet, screw your diet: eat a cupcake. I mean, if you can’t enjoy yourself & indulge on holidays, then when can you?