“Mama, they are just too beautiful to use!” I said as I opened the special gift. Inside the box so neatly wrapped as only Mama could do, was a set of Blue Willow Tableware. It was service for four including a sugar bowl, a creamer, a large serving bowl and a medium sized platter.

“Oh, just keep them Lou,” she replied. “You may change your mind and who knows, these may be worth a lot of money one day-- or you might even pass them on to your grandkids.”

I smiled and turned to Mama and gave her a big hug. “Thanks so much Mama, but I’m not planning on ever having any kids, much less grandkids.”

“Oh, you’ll change your mind about that. Just give it some time,” Mama answered in her loving way.

I took each piece from the box and placed them on the kitchen table and admired their design and beauty. I fell in love with them right away. Adorning each piece was a under-glazed transfer pattern portraying an oriental scene. There was a teahouse, a bridge, a boat, a temple, orange trees, two birds and a weeping willow. The design was blue against a white background.

“I’ll treasure them always, Mama,” I told her smiling. “This set of dishes is my favorite wedding gift. You couldn’t have chosen anything I would have liked better.”

I carefully wrapped each piece and returned them to their box. At that time I had no place to display them and I surely didn’t want to risk having one precious piece broken.

As time passed and my husband and I moved from place to place, my box of Blue Willow went along. My life took many turns in different directions but somehow that box was always put away some place safe waiting for the day those priceless ornaments would be displayed in some elegant china closet or curio cabinet.

As for children, I did change my mind. I gave birth to a son, and 14 years later I adopted a daughter. The year my son graduated from High School, my daughter started to school. I remember my daughter as a teenager asking, “Mama, are you ever going to do anything with those Blue Willow dishes? They are always in the way.”

By this time they had been taken from the box and were stacked on the top shelf inside one of the kitchen cabinets. “Yes Cathy, someday I am going to have a special place to display them, and who knows? I may have grandchildren in the future to leave them to.”

Several more years passed, then I lost Mama. Shortly after the most devastating time in my life, I moved back to my old hometown and once again my “more cherished than ever” Blue Willow collection was carefully wrapped and placed in a box.

The time eventually came that I had to sort out, distribute, and dispose of my Mama’s meager possessions. One day while sorting through Mama’s personal things I ran across one old Blue Willow plate, one serving bowl, a small platter and a creamer. These pieces were all that was left of the set she had purchased for herself the day she had presented me with mine. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I sat on the floor of her home that day hugging that old platter close to my heart.

Suddenly my gaze drifted to an old antique maple hutch that Mama had loved and treasured for many years just as I had loved and treasured my Blue Willow dishes. I told my brothers that I wanted it if they had no objection, and they said, “That old thing? Take it. What on earth do you want with it?”

I had the old hutch moved to my home. I cleaned and polished it and placed it in my dining room. Then very carefully I unwrapped my treasures and placed them one piece at a time into the old maple hutch. I arranged and re-arranged my priceless jewels and finally stood back admiring my handiwork. “There, “ I said with a sigh. “Mama would be so proud.”

The Blue Willow dishes had finally been put to use. They were standing in their lofty positions as a memorial to Mama. How do Mama’s always know? Why are they always right? She commented so long ago that I just might change my mind and put those dishes to use, said they may be worth a lot of money one day, and that maybe I would leave them to my grandchildren.

Well, I do have one granddaughter, and she has won my heart. I just may leave my Blue Willow treasures to her. My son and daughter grew tired of them just watching me pack and unpack them for so many years. I am sure they won’t mind.

Since the day I placed those old dishes in the antique hutch my passion has been to find and add more pieces to my collection. I began going to flea markets, garage sales, and searching on-line auctions seeking any item I could find having the lovely Blue Willow pattern.

I have replaced the two missing cups that strangely disappeared from my original set many years ago; and I have managed to add enough pieces to my growing collection to now have service for six. I lack a few more items having service for eight.

I am searching for a teapot, a butter dish, and a lid for my sugar bowl and my set will be complete. Of course, I do not turn down any Blue Willow item I can afford to purchase.

My prized possessions are worth a lot more money today than when Mama first bought them so long ago, but money could not buy them. The sentimental value is more precious than gold.

“Thanks Mama—but you know? They are still just too beautiful to use!”