I Can Explain

When I was searching for some of my mother's unfinished projects, I found one of my strangest collections. I am sure that you will find it peculiar as well.

This box contains napkins from my childhood. Yes, you read that correctly: I said napkins.

Why would anyone save napkins? Well, let me explain. . .

I did not start this collection. You might say that it adopted me.

The oldest napkin in the box is from my eldest brother's wedding shower (June 29, 1956) as chronicled by my mother's notation on the napkin. Life was different then: phone calls were expensive and it took forever to travel on two-lane highways. My mother saved items like this to send to family members who could not attend. She clipped articles from the newspaper and sent them as well.

I do not remember attending many birthday parties when I was a child, but this napkin shows that I attended at least one. Don's family lived on a neighboring farm. Today, he is active in my church.

I don't know what was so memorable about Christmas 1957, but Mom did.

Do you remember Bunny Bread? Possibly, it is still available in other areas of the country, but I haven't seen it in Wyoming for more than 30 years.

My parents were active in the Farmer's Union and the Farmer's Union Co-op. I remember attending evening meetings with my parents and have vague memories of working on projects for this group and attending picnics. There were membership pins that had exchangeable plates, which I think indicated the number of years the person was involved in the group.

Even though I can explain this napkin collection, I cannot explain why I keep them.