Well, November is almost over. The fields have gone from emerald to amber and gold. I've stretched out my love affair with autumn as long as I possibly can and now I think it's time to say goodbye to all my Halloween and autumn things. (BTW. You can get this sequin pumpkin dress for an extra 30% off at Unique Vintage's Cyber Monday sale with the code BESTMONDAY)
As promised I did watch and wait until the post-Halloween sales to buy a few things for next year including this sequined pumpkin dress, which is so like the Halloween version of the strawberry dress that I knew I would definitely buy it. It is such a gorgeous vintage style and so whimsical and unique that I hope that many of my dresses will be heirlooms that will be passed down to my daughters and their daughters, and this dress will definitely be one of those heirlooms.
This was my dream, you know, to have gorgeous gowns from a bygone era lovingly entrusted to me by a like-minded matriarch. But, that dream was not to be for me anyway. My family history is mostly comprised of farmers and not the wealthy type either. There wasn't much left at the end of their short lives. They were strong women, women of faith and integrity, but not means. And that kind of life can take its toll. They were hard women too, to the point of being bitter or withdrawn. To the point of being more like farm equipment rather than human beings, let alone women.
Don't misunderstand me, I know that life, I know what it takes and I love the legacy they left me because it came at such a great personal cost--the best and most worthy things always do. I learned to work hard without complaining, to sacrifice without regret. I have learned to be satisfied and find joy in life whether I have more than I need or not nearly enough. I have learned to hold onto my faith no matter what my circumstances. And that has made all the difference.
I want to give all those things to my children. But I have to do more than that. I have to add my own heirlooms as well. I hope that my children and grandchildren will receive from me, all those things plus grace, tact, an enduring willingness to forgive, to keep their hearts open, and yes, some style.
Because life is more than trials and heartache; it's laughter and whimsy. It's getting dirty working on the farm and dressing up for a night out. Don't get so busy working that you become just a cog in the machine. Be an individual; be a woman. You miss the beauty if you're always looking at the mess. In the same way it's easy to miss the beauty of each passing season if we are eternally in love with spring--or autumn in my case.
So, as I keep this tradition of turning my attention away from autumn and toward all that winter has to offer--the beauty and the challenges like having enough food stocked up in case the roads turn icy and we can't leave the mountain top for days and days--I carefully fold up my pretty dresses, all the sequins, all the lace, properly preserving them each year so they like all the life lessons I try to impart to my children will stand the test of time and I can pass them along to some future generation.
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