Today we enjoyed a nice mini-reunion at a favorite little restaurant with several family members from towns just far enough away, that we don't get to visit very often, especially this time of year when weather can get pretty dicey in no time at all. We had a great visit and a yummy belated lunch. The rain stopped on our return trip, until we got back to our city, which I should have recognized as an omen...but I didn't.
When we got into the living room we noticed a huge bare spot above the fireplace mantel. Oh no! Of all the things to be damaged, not my Nativity!!! My beloved late Aunt, painted every piece for me herself years ago, I believe it was the first Nativity she ever made. She would carefully clean the green ware and paint every piece with love, as she did everything she ever created, with lots of love... I had asked that my Mary look as I imagined Mary really looked, with olive skin and black hair, (not European looking with blond hair and blue-eyes), she did an amazing job and I've adored this set since she gave it to me sometime in the early 80's.
I couldn't bear to get close enough to see how bad the damage was. To my amazement my daughter started picking up some pieces that were still intact, but I could see some shattered pieces on the brick part of the floor. My husband picked up the moose painting that has been over the fireplace for years, and found that the picture wire had snapped right in the middle, and old Eldridge, (the moose), had taken a nose dive taking much of my Nativity set with him. I finally put on my big girl panties and took a few steps closer. Mary has a small chip, but is otherwise in great shape, Jesus is fine, but his little manger has a chunk out of it, the only major losses are the cow and poor Joseph. His metal staff is currently resting near a small candle where he used to reside. I am trying to be grateful that the damage wasn't any worse, but this is one of my dearest treasures and I am having a difficult time accepting the damage and the loss.
I took ceramics classes with my Aunt for a while, but I lack her patience and talent. If I ever do decide to attempt to replace Joseph and my reddish-brown bovine, I know that I will never love them as much as the ones she created for me, so long ago. It's really not the broken ceramics I am mourning, but HER. The world was a much more beautiful place when she was here, as I am certain that Heaven is now that she is there.
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