Traditions bind generations together. That belief is the central theme of the musical “Fiddler on the Roof” where traditions connect family members.

Recently, our family hosted a baby shower for our son and daughter-in-law. Our eighth grandchild is due at the end of July, and we cannot wait for this little girl to make her appearance.

Since her older siblings are boys, we wanted to be sure Alle had “girly” gifts, and my daughter-in-law and I were in charge of putting on the shower. We didn’t think we had the decorating talents of Alle and our other daughter-in-law, Ingrid, but we gave it our best.

Pink and delicate were the overall picks for the occasion. Erin took the lion’s share of the decorations, and she did a beautiful job.

Erin’s two daughters, Kylie and Katherine, were called on to help, and along the way, we passed on family stories.

In the china cabinet are plates and bowls I seldom use, mostly because they’re elegant and we’re not a fancy family. But today was the right day to haul out the “good stuff.”

The girls were with me as I opened the doors and gently took out a sugar bowl, part of a set of china my sister found for me. I reminded them how important they are to each other, just as my two sisters are to me.

Also in the cabinet was a gift my brought me from Lebanon years ago.  We talked about their Lebanese heritage and why those gifts held such a sentimental attachment for me.

Also in the cabinet were a few china cups and saucers my aunt gave to me years ago. These had been chipped or broken, but I never had the heart to throw them away. Instead, I glued them back together and saved them in the cabinet.

I began collecting china cups and saucers because of my Aunt Bev, and I have quite a few. The girls and I picked out pink cups and matching saucers for the shower. We placed the freshly washed and dried sets on a runner Alle’s mother brought us from Mexico.

The sugar bowl was filled with sugar cubes, the tea kettle on a warming pad, and the hot tea station was finished. I looked at the display and how the light caught the silver and gold on the cups.

I thanked my Aunt Bev once again for giving me a love of those pretty cups and for passing on a tradition of antiquing and collecting she loved. I thanked Alle’s mom for passing on a gift from her culture and smiled at how two different families meshed together seamlessly.

Erin had bowls and platters from her mom, and I loved hearing her tell the girls about the wonderful parties her mom held when she was growing up. Erin’s mom is a delightful person, and her annual Cookie Day is a not-to-be-missed event.

As the girls helped us set the table, we gently guided them, but they’d been at their mom’s side many times and knew how to set a pretty table. Watching guests from my family and Alle’s use the keepsakes we treasured brought the traditions full circle.

Erin made beautiful thank-you gifts for the guests. Inside a pretty tulle bag was a tea strainer, loose tea and a small gold teaspoon. They were the perfect ending to a wonderful afternoon.

As we cleared the table after the last guests left, I thanked our female ancestors for taking the time to teach an important lesson we are passing on to this next generation: traditions connect us.

 

 This column was originally published in The Fort Bend Herald.