photo prompt © Rochelle Wisof-Fields
Sarah stood looking at the packing cartons. Two held kitchen ware, one a dinner service, eight were books, three office, one clothes whilst the remaining eighteen boxes were marked crystal. Why had she kept all this crystal? They never used it. Damian wouldn’t drink out of the wine glasses and they no longer entertained to use the parfait glasses and dessert bowls. She hadn’t had a dressing table in years so why did she lug around the dressing table set.
“I’ll sell the crystal,” Sarah said.
“Who’ll buy it? The only thing people don’t want more than crystal is ebola.”
In response to our hosts Rochelle Wisoff-Fields prompt and with thanks to her also for this weeks photo
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About Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist
I began my working career as a reluctant potato peeler whilst waiting to commence my training as a student nurse. On completion I worked mainly in intensive care/coronary care; finishing my hospital career as clinical nurse educator in intensive care. A life changing period as a resort owner/manager on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu was followed by recovery time as a farmer at Bucca Wauka. Having discovered I was no farmer and vowing never again to own an animal bigger than myself I took on the Barrington General Store. Here we also ran a five star restaurant. Working the shop of a day 7am - 6pm followed by the restaurant until late was surprisingly more stressful than Tanna. On the sale we decided to retire and renovate our house with the help of a builder friend. Now believing we knew everything about building we set to constructing our own house. Just finished a coal mine decided to set up in our backyard. Definitely time to retire we moved to Queensland. I had been writing a manuscript for some time. In the desire to complete this I enrolled in a post grad certificate in creative Industries which I completed 2013. I followed this by doing a Master of Arts by research graduating in 2017. Now I live to write and write to live.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
Brilliantly written. The ending is great. The changing of popular pieces in different times. Great piece.
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Thank you Lisa. Yes it is one item that was once revered and now no longer wanted. Every so often I think of selling my crystal but then I look at it and it is truly beautiful so it sits in a cupboard never seeing the light of day. Glad you enjoyed the piece.
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Ah! The demise of fine dining! But this is true. Last summer I went to these estate sales on the Keweenaw and saw beautiful crystal for so few dollars, but no one wanted it.
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Yes it is shunned. Such a shame.
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I’d buy it, but have no place to put it!
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I’ve discovered that no one wants the tchotchkes I think are charming. Like in the wonderful book, Broken for You by Stephanie Kallos, they may be destined for some kind of recyling project I don’t want to know about. Your story ending is absolutely right on.
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Thanks Sharon re the end. Tchotchkes is not a word I had heard before. I believe it means trinket and I haven’t heard of the book either. Thank you for giving me a book to add to my reading list and a new word. Luckily we all have something we find beautiful and who cares if no-one else finds it beautiful – I probably don’t find beautiful what they collect.
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The book is fabulous and widely read, often a book club choice.
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I need a book club choice….
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Hang on to it – it may become fashionable again one day. But then again…
Click to read my FriFic tale
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I may be waiting a long time. Thanks for reading keith.
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Cracking last line!
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Thank you very much Clare.
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Dear Irene,
It’s sad that elegance has gone out of style, isn’t it? It makes me want to throw a dinner party and use the crystal. 😉 Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It is a shame but a dinner party sounds fun. Thank you. Cheers Irene
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Oy! Crystal and ebola? I’ll take the crystal, thanks 🙂
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LOL. I would too.
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Bwahaha! That’s a great last line. A ripper!
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Thank you very much.
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You build nicely to the last line, which made me smile.
I must be very out of date because I like crystal. I use the wine glasses twice a week, and the cheese plate three or four days a week; the other pieces are used, but less often.
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Thanks Penny. I’m glad you use them Penny. I would too but my husband doesn’t like them and we no longer entertain so don’t have reason to.
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Such a shame these objects have lost their appeal, but perhaps one day they will be treasured again.
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You never know. If they do then I’ll sell them.
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Indeed.. crystal is something that people don’t use any more… Note to self: drink you wine in crystal glass tonight
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Fashion touches everything, doesn’t it? I was never a fan of cut crystal wine glasses (too thick for my taste), but bowls sure are pretty… and vases 😉
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You and my husband feel the same. Fashion does impact on everything.
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A sad reminder how times have changed. I agree that you should hang on to that piece, it might come back around like everything else. I love the last line! =)
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Thanks Brenda. Fashion always turns full circle if you wait long enough. I’ll probably wait.
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Great ending.
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Thank you.
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Was, is crystal that bad. I think people are given so much for presents that it’s almost old hat. You are right who buys it these days, our charity shops are full of it.
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Hi Irene,
I seemed to have dropped a few words off my comment.
“Was the crystal really that bad”
Sorry!
I have had a look around your site, there are some wonderful pictures.
Take care,
James.
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Thank you James. Photography is a hobby and now that there aren’t developing costs I can go mad. Glad you enjoyed them.
I actually think crystal is beautiful and can’t bare to part with it. Apparently I’m in the minority but no – it isn’t that bad.
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Yes I think charity shops are the only people that want it – it would be interesting to know if they have a market for it.
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Yet I bet she still can’t bring herself to get rid of it.
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True.
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