My Favorite Things, Part 1

The other day, my friend Rachel sent me a "Getting to Know You" email, where you answer questions about yourself and email it on to your friends, hoping they will answer the same questions and send it back to you. One of the questions was "what are your favorite possessions?" It got me thinking, and I thought I would document them here on my blog, if for nothing else but for posterity.
I know "things" aren't the most important things in life. We learned that quite well last summer when a hurricane threatened all of ours. Obviously I treasure my family more than any thing in the world, but some objects really are treasures to me, and these are a few of them.

My Degas

My mom and dad gave this reproduction of "Petite danseuse de quatorze ans" for Christmas one year before I left home. It's really, really heavy and has been carefully wrapped in towels and packed with me through six moves now. The graceful stance of this young girl brings elegance to any room into which she is placed. She inspires me to strive for beauty in even small things. Before I had children, I signed myself up for a ballet class, and although I was quite alarmed by my body's inability to be graceful in dance, I can at least look at her in admiration.

This old photo album

I have many small treasures in my trunk full of family history paraphernalia. My mom gave me this little album last year after her mom passed away. It is full of very old and amazing pictures of ancestors of mine and their friends. Some of them I'd love to frame, but I'm very scared about handling them, so they will stay safely housed in this little treasure of a book on the shelf in our guest room.

My London Journal

I learned so much about myself and life in general while I was studying in London. I fell in love with the city and gained independence and self-confidence that will last me a lifetime. I spent many quiet moments alone in a noisy city, and through those moments, I learned not only what I want out of life, but who I wanted to spend it with. My testimony was strengthened and my love for travel was cemented in my heart. I count that all-too-short visit as one of the best experiences of my life. This journal records it all. I started writing in this journal on the airplane trip over the sea and finished it on the ride back. I carried it in my bag each day I spent in England. I can turn to any page and am immediately taken back to the moment I wrote the words on that page.

My Piano

My grandmother gave me my baby grand piano last year when we moved into our house. It belonged to her mother, Evelyn May Potter, and its genuine ivory keys are full of music past and present. I love to spend my odd free moments working on my talent; it needs a lot of work, but I find playing music very relaxing. I can be silent and create beauty, and that, I love.