More Than Just

There’s no need to tell me.

I know.

Honestly, I do.

I can quote what I’ve been told so often.

“They are only things,” obviously, unimportant in the reality of my life.

Yet each minuscule item retrieves a memory.

The blue and white soap dish, obviously not suitable in its new bathroom residence, was purchased in a general store in Barton, Vt.

My husband and I vacationed in the Northeast Kingdom for over thirty years, and one rainy morning (obviously not a “Lake Day,”) we drove down to the local General store to browse.

The room was unusually crowded, and it was soon apparent that everyone except us was waiting for THE doughnuts to be delivered. A sense of anticipation pulsed throughout the room, and infiltrated both our appetites.

Neither of us were avid doughnut fans, but it was soon obvious that we had been missing out on one of life’s delights.

So, what did we do?

Of course we joined the throng of eager doughnut lovers. We stood in the rear of the group.

However, feeling just a mite uncomfortable as an obvious tourist, I spotted the tiny round dish and brought it up to the counter.

The clerk said seeing my shock at the price , “It is Bennington Pottery, and that’s why it is so costly.”

No, until then I hadn’t been aware of the famed blue and white design unique to Bennington.

However I paid the exorbitant price and went back to the doughnut queue with the small dish in my pocket.

Eventually the door opened and a woman entered with a huge cardboard box. Within minutes the box had emptied and only two fragrant brown round circles remained.

My husband quickly claimed them, paid the bill, and we drove back to the cabin to savor our treat.

I wish I could say they were the best doughnuts we ever tasted, but unfortunately, my love and I agreed. Not so, not even close. Dunkin Doughnuts need not worry.

Still we had shared another one of life’s adventures, and after all I still had my first piece of Bennington pottery. Also, a morning we remembered from that day on especially whenever we saw a doughnut.

Now you know why the small blue and white dish is more than just what was once termed “Stuff.”

It is the keeper of a happy memory.