Heart Touchers

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Jenny's Antique* 4/2/02

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We continue with our Grandparents theme today with a
story by one of our favorite contributors, Harriet May Savitz.
Do you like rare collectibles and antiques? My guess is that
after you read today's story, you will never look at an
antique the same again!

From my family to yours,
Michael
P.S. To purchase your copy of Chicken Soup for the Grandparent's
Soul visit our book store at: http://www.HeartTouchers.com/books

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Jenny's Antique

By Harriet May Savitz

My six year old granddaughter stares at me as if she is
seeing me for the first time. "Grandma, you are an
antique," she says. "You are old. Antiques are old.
You are my antique."

I am not satisfied to let the matter rest there. I take
out the Webster's Dictionary and read the definition
to Jenny. I explain, "An antique is not only just old,
it's an object existing since or belonging to earlier
times ...a work of art ... piece of furniture. Antiques
are treasured," I tell Jenny as I put away the dictionary.
"They have to be handled carefully because they
sometimes are very valuable."

In order to qualify as an antique, the object has to be
at least 100 years old.

"I'm only 67 ," I remind Jenny.

We look around the house for other antiques, besides
me. There is a bureau that was handed down from one
aunt to another and finally to our family. "It's very old,"
I tell Jenny. "I try to keep it polished and I show it off
whenever I can. You do that with antiques." When
Jenny gets older and understands such things, I might
also tell her that whenever I look at the bureau or touch
it, I am reminded of the aunt so dear to me who gave me
the bureau as a gift. I see her face again though she is
no longer with us. I even hear her voice, and recall her
smile. I remember myself as a little girl leaning against
this antique, listening to one of her stories. The bureau
does that for me.

There is a picture on the wall purchased at a garage sale.
It is dated 1867. "Now that's an antique," I boast. "Over
100 years old." Of course it is marked up and scratched
and not in very good condition. "Sometimes age does
that," I tell Jenny. "But the marks are good marks. They
show living, being around. That's something to display
with pride. In fact, sometimes, the more an object shows
age, the moire valuable it can become." It is important
that I believe this for my own self-esteem.

Our tour of antiques continues. There is a vase on the floor.
It has been in my house for a long time. I'm not certain where
it came from but I didn't buy it new. And then there is the
four poster bed, sent to me 40 years ago by an uncle who
slept in it for fifty years.

One thing about antiques, I explain to Jenny, is that they
usually have a story. They've been in one home and then
another, handed down one from family to another, traveling
all over the place. They've lasted through years and years.
They could have been tossed away, or ignored, or destroyed,
or lost. But instead, they survived.

For a moment Jenny looks thoughtful. "I don't have any
antiques but you," she says. Then her face brightens.
"Could I take you to school for show and tell?"

"Only if I fit into your backpack," I answer.

And then Jenny's antique lifted her up and embraced her in
a hug that would last through the years.

Harriet May Savitz
hmaysavitz@aol.com

E-mail Harriet and let her know your thoughts on her story!

---------
(c) Copyright 2002, Harriet May Savitz

Published Credits include: Chicken Soup for the Golden Soul...Chicken Soup for the Sport's Fans Soul...Chicken Soup for the Soul of America...Chicken Soup for the Grandparent's Soul...21 Published Books...an ABC Afterschool Special produced by Henry Winkler of book, "Run, Don't Walk." Essays appearing in newspapers and magazines...

Look for her new book, "Messages from Somewhere: Inspiring Stories of
Life After 60," where Harriet reveals the limitless possibilities
at this stage of life, encouraging folks to continue making a
difference in their world. This book looks at renewal within
family life, friendships, grandparenting, reaching out to the
community, relationships, self-discovery, and survival. You can
check out this accomplished writer at her web site:
http://www.harrietmaysavitz.com and look for her new books with
Little Treasure Publications, Inc. -
http://www.littletreasurebooks.com or email: SoulComfort@aol.com
for details.
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READER FEEDBACK!

Dear Eunice,
Thank-you very much for your gift to us -- your Celebrate the Gift story in Heart Touchers. I was a little behind in reading my e-mails because of the Easter Holiday (and a glorious one it was!) I happened to read it today. Today my youngest son would've turned 25 years old. He will be gone 5 years this May 6th. So I needed to read your story today. God does work in mysterious and marvelous ways indeed. It has been a long and painful 5 years getting used to life without Eric. He had heart trouble and fought it for about 9 years and died at home in his own bed in the arms of his Dad and I. One of the sympathy cards we received stated something to the effect that the writer hoped we would be able to look at our time with Eric as a 20 year gift and not just the sad times and our loss. I am also learning to celebrate the gift!
   Thanks again for your story.
Linda Haskins
bhaskins@metrocast.net

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Thought For The Day:

You see things and you say, "Why?" But I dream things that never
were and I say, "Why not?" --George Bernard Shaw

Verse for the Day:

"Without faith it is impossible to please God."
Hebrews 11:6

Kid's Thought For The Day:

"How do you know you can't make a rocket out of tinfoil boxes and
cardboard unless you try?"

Parent's Thought For The Day

"There's a time when you have to explain to your children why they're
born, and it's a marvelous thing if you know the reason by then."
--Hazel Scott

Coach's Thought For The Day

"It is amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares
who gets the credit!"

Writer's Thought For The Day;

"If I don't have anything to say for three or four months, I just don't
write. When I read a book, I can always tell if the writer has written
through a block. If he or she had just waited, it would have been better or
different, or a little more natural. You can see the seams." --Toni Morrison

Deep Thought For The Day:

"I locked my coat-hanger in the car. Good thing I had a key."

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_
/_/\/\    MICHAEL T. POWERS
\_\ /    HeartTouchers@aol.com
/_/ \    "For I have been crucified with Christ and I no
\_\/\ \   longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I
\_\/   live in the body I live for the Son of God, who
   loved me and gave Himself for me."
   Galatians 2:20
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