Dishes and Manuscripts

We are going to have to replace our car with what I’m calling our Casket Car since we drive our vehicles for 12-14 years each. We squeeze every mile possible out of them. Another 14 years, will we still be here? Will we even be driving? I am not moved by newness or deluxe editions of anything. If I had a promise this Windstar van would drive five more years without a burp of any kind, I would vote for keeping it. But the poor thing now has dashboard lighting up more red alert buttons than a Ferris wheel has light bulbs.

I got an email from Steve Wiegenstein, Missouri Writers’ Guild president, as a reminder that time is running out for submitting to President’s Contests associated with Missouri Writing Guild Conference in April. I have never met Steve, but he must be a nice guy to spend his time reminding the rest of us writers of dates we should be noting for ourselves. I appreciated the note though because time crept up on me.

So I got busy and made submissions. I also packed four boxes to mail and headed for the post office where I waited in line with 15 people while ONE clerk managed the front. I couldn't help but think of that $30 million the post office sent to the certain man to ride his bicycle all over Europe. Meow.

Okay, so being downtown anyway, I pulled in to check a flea market that I have passed over for some time. I found a couple of things—always, must stay out of these places. But the little lavender bowl and saucer, so sweet, was a Limoges from France. I don’t use lavender much but the dainty flowers and pastel color was too pleasing. I thought olives, sugar, or something would work in the combo.

I also found a flow blue shallow bowl. Nope, did  not need it and it wasn't Blue Willow but it was so pretty! I can always use a blue bowl, although this one is more like a salad plate it is so shallow. What I liked about it was how it felt in my hands; I could feel a story here. It was England-made so I brought it home. When I looked up the mark, it was made in the Stoke on Kent, a china making capital. I also learned this bowl was made between 1902 and 1926…this lovely piece is over 80 years old. I love thinking of all the people it has served and wish it could tell the things it has seen.

It is Friday and the weekend approaches. We are to have rain which is so needed in our corner of the earth. Dear Readers, have a good weekend for yourselves, rain or shine.