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.

Comments

  1. I think you keep them because each one has a memory attached to it. I found it very interesting. Are you still adding to the collection?

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  2. I think those are fabulous! Wish I would have done something like that. However, I did save napkins from our daughters wedding and my 25th anniversary party.

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  3. Oh, I love it!!! What a wonderful find!!!!

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  4. I'm visiting from Mary at Traveling Hammer. I love this napkin collection and the stories attached to the box of treasures. What a neat idea.

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  5. This is a great collection! I have saved some napkins, too. I have some glued in my childhood scrapbooks. If there is a wedding napkin glued in, there is also the coordinating rice bag I saved beside it!
    Thanks for sharing - Sarita

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  6. I love the napkin collection. Could you would you add more now?? Pass it on to grandchildren???

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  7. I can totally understand why you keep this collection!
    What a unique and wonderful time capsule!

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  8. What a unique collection. I love to see collections like that. I remember Bunny Bread. Maybe someday your napkins could be donated to the museum.
    Rebel Follower

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