Lace
Wandering round Vinnies
today wintry and grey
on a mission to rescue
lace doilies carefully crocheted
by pink cheeked porcelain skinned
sweet old ladies wearing rimless specs
just like my lovely grandmother
Feeling mellow and happy
in the soft afternoon light
until I thought of that lace tablecloth
T'was a wedding present from the inlaws
That's the thing about the mind
There is no delete button
I remember trudging around endless
factories owned by their friends
to find the right discounted item
Stupid naive girl that I was thought
they had fallen upon hard times
not realising that this was their
chosen modus operandi
Soon learnt that there was some basis
after all for all those rude jokes about the rich
With the inevitable outbreak of WW3
A truce was reached with a divorce
In the division of the spoils I left
it behind along with almost everything else
I never liked it
They never liked me
They have been gone awhile now
I don't remember the table cloth
I still remember them
Wandering round Vinnies
today wintry and grey
on a mission to rescue
lace doilies carefully crocheted
by pink cheeked porcelain skinned
sweet old ladies wearing rimless specs
just like my lovely grandmother
Feeling mellow and happy
in the soft afternoon light
until I thought of that lace tablecloth
T'was a wedding present from the inlaws
That's the thing about the mind
There is no delete button
I remember trudging around endless
factories owned by their friends
to find the right discounted item
Stupid naive girl that I was thought
they had fallen upon hard times
not realising that this was their
chosen modus operandi
Soon learnt that there was some basis
after all for all those rude jokes about the rich
With the inevitable outbreak of WW3
A truce was reached with a divorce
In the division of the spoils I left
it behind along with almost everything else
I never liked it
They never liked me
They have been gone awhile now
I don't remember the table cloth
I still remember them
What a horiffic thought, scouting out your own bargain present. They probably then faulted your taste.
ReplyDeleteYou'd have loved my mother-in-law, everyone did. (she said, dryly) She gave lavishly, and unexpectedly. Then, years later, she would ask for the thing back, just as capriciously. By the time I got up enough gumption to refuse one of her "gifts", she'd gone senile.
I've lumped two or three thoughts together with some music vids in this post, but rumination on a question is my real response.
Oh Rall, what a horrid time you must have had. I had an inimical first m-i-l, and it made life very difficult, so I know what you went through.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting how one thought can pop in and darken a day. Thanks for sharing this story with us.
ReplyDeleteI will never live up to my daughter's father's family's expectations of anything, except maybe a heretic. (how about all those possessives...sheesh!)
You are right on, about the mind not being able to delete. Some things are permanently etched. Lace took you to an interesting place, Rall. I will go read it again now.
Rall exes! That is why they are called that exactly! Sounds like a difficult time.
ReplyDeletePam
'Vinnies' is a popular chain of op shops run by the Society of the Saint Vincent de Paul.
ReplyDeleteI have bought some wonderful things there ranging from books to furniture.
Thanks for your supportive comments gals. All in the past...am just up, looking at my $2 vase
purchased yesterday with white jonquils in it, having a tea...feel good.
I had wondered what Vinnies is/was, so thanks for that. In-laws seem to be the bane of many lives! Folks can find my poem here:
ReplyDeletehttp://melrosemusings.blogspot.com/2010/07/thanksgiving-pow-prompt-12.html
I could probably make you a lace doiley, but the rimless specs and pocelain skin would be another matter! Did you find any doilies, is the question?
ReplyDeleteSure did. Beautiful pieces that nobody wants. The inscriptions in the books always make me sad. I often wonder why the relatives do not keep them...probably stock brokers!
ReplyDelete