Tuesday, July 4, 2017

T Stands For Ma's Pitcher


Today would have been my parent's 74th wedding anniversary. They were married on the Fourth of  July in 1943. Ma was a war bride. She said she had a very short amount of time to plan the wedding. Dad was stationed at Fort Eustace in Florida. He told her he had a week's leave before he would be sent to the Pacific theater. If they were to get married, it would be now as there might not be a later.


They spent a one week honeymoon in New Hampshire. I don't know where in New Hampshire, but they traveled from Boston by train. While in New Hampshire, she bought a souvenir, a cut glass pitcher. I had once asked her where she got the pitcher. She said at an antique store.  I have no idea how old the pitcher is. There are no markings on it. I remember she used it a handful of times as a pitcher, but mostly it was used as a vase.

After the honeymoon, Ma returned home to live with her parents. Dad shipped out with his unit to New Guinea and later the Philippines where he served directly under his hero, General Douglas MacArthur.

I wonder if in the years, that Dad was serving in the war (1943 - 1945), what Ma thought when she looked at the pitcher. Was it a happy reminder of the first week of her marriage with her husband? Did the sparkling cut glass shimmer with her hopes and dreams for the safe return of her husband and the happy life they would have in their own home some day?

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page.

36 comments:

  1. This is a remarkable story. That photo of your parents wedding was incredible. That wedding dress was gorgeous, but the train was out of this world.

    I adore the pitcher. It makes you wonder about these things when it's too late to find out more than just a casual explanation. That's why I think we need to talk to old people we know and learn their stories before it's too late.

    Thanks for sharing these beautiful pictures and the pitcher with us for T this Tuesday.

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    1. As I recall, the dress was ivory lace on the bodice with leg o'mutton sleeves. The skirt was chiffon. The dress buttoned up the back with tiny buttons. When I was little, she gave me her wedding dress to play dress up.

      Yup, we should talk to our Elders to find out their stories before the stories are lost. In my case, the Elders never talked about their past. Never talked about family they left behind in Italy. Maybe they were waiting for us to ask and we were probably to selfish and absorbed in ourselves or too stupid to realize the resources we had.

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  2. I loved reading your post! I wish I had spoken more to my Grandparents about their lives - my Granpop had to travel around for work as a plumber and the uprooted altogether, with a family of five children, to move from the South of England up to the North! Happy T day! Chrisx

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    1. I bet he would have had some interesting stories

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  3. Oh my, what an amazing story you shared about your parents and I love you have the pitcher filled with flowers on this special day! Thanks for sharing such wonderful heartfelt memories and wishing you a very Happy T Day! J 😊

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    1. I didn't even think about getting some flowers for the vase today. Shame on me! The picture is an old one.

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    2. Ah, that's ok though as you showed you still remembered by sharing their beautiful and magical story with the world on your blog 😀. Happy 4th! J x

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    3. Thanks, Jo, I feel better (-:

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  4. Nice story CJ. It was a fascinating time. My aunt was a war bride too. MY uncle died 3 years ago but my aunt is still around at 94 and they were also married many years. I don't know exactly how many but they were into their 70's. To build such a life together for so long is truly amazing I think. I love the vase and glad you have it as the story behind it is really a good one. Happy 4th! Hugs-Erika

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    1. That generation was amazing. Growing up during the Depression. Learning to do without or make do. Getting out of that and facing a war.

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  5. Such a lovely post. The wedding photo is gorgeous-so handsome a man and a beautiful woman in that gorgeous dress. Love the story about the glass vase, and how special to have it as a reminder of the love of your parents. Happy T day!

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    1. The vase was one of Ma's pretties she gave to me herself many years ago. I don't remember how or why. I wouldn't be surprised if she brought me flowers in the vase and told me to keep the vase.

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  6. Beautiful story and photo. Lovely that you have the vase as a memento. Now I will always think of you and your parents on the 4th! Happy 4 T(h) day!

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    1. Our 4th of July cookouts were to celebrate my parents' anniversary. I think I was around 10 years old when I realized the fireworks weren't for them.

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  7. Lovely story about your parents' wedding, those were hard times for all. The pitcher is beautiful, I love glass and it looks great. So glad you still have it. Happy T Day, hugs, Valerie

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    1. It's a pretty piece. Very heavy and sturdy. No chips even though it's been used.

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  8. A wonderful post with a really lovely story about the jug.

    Happy T Day

    Love Chrissie xx

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  9. What a beautifully written lovely story, CJ. 4th of July must have been very special to your family.

    Happy T-Day! Hugs, Eileen

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    1. While everyone else was celebrating the independance of our nation, my family celebrated the day my father gave up his :-D

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  10. Oh, CJ, what a lovely, moving post.
    And how awesome that your dad served with MacArthur.

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    1. Thanks, Sandra. I was feeling a little melancholy

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  11. What a lovely story and souvenir. ♥♥♥♥

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    1. Thanks, Robin. A pretty pitcher with pretty memories.

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  12. What a lovely story and a gorgeous photo of your parents.. what a treasure! Happy T day! Hugs! deb

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    1. I had a couple of the wedding portraits framed for their 50th wedding anniversary.

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  13. SUCH A LOVELY love STORY - I really would like to learn more about your parents - that photo of them is so beautiful!
    Happy T-Day!
    oxo Susi

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    1. Danke, Susi. On Thursdays, I blog from notebooks my father wrote and I found after he passed away. Mostly, about his life growing up.

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  14. Oh my this was a great post of your family memories you have shared with us today.
    The photos were beautiful and I think the pitcher looks lovely and will be treasured in your family for many more years.
    Happy T day
    Yvonne xx

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    1. Thank you, Yvonne. I hope one of my girlies will view the pitcher as a treasure and not something to toss in the trash.

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  15. What a wonderful post. The photo of your parents is beautiful and the dress gorgeous. It must have been difficult in war time to get a dress like that and that with a week's notice. Very good.
    I take it your dad came home from the war as you are blogging his notes. I spent as pleasant half hour Reading as many as I had time for. Thank you so much for sharing those.
    I would love to know more about your dad, like what he eventually did for a living. How he was as a dad and as a mature man.
    The pitcher is a real treasure. Antique or not, it doesn't matter. It is precios to you.
    Happy (belated) T-Day,
    Lisca

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    1. And you just gave me an idea for a future T Stands For post. Stay tuned.

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  16. What a beautiful photo and wonderful story about your parents! So sweet...and the glass pitcher is gorgeous! happy very belated T day!

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  17. I love your mom and dad's wedding picture! I am so happy you kept the glass pitcher! How special!

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    1. The pitcher ccomes in handy as it's the perfect size vase.

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