At some point around 12 years-old, my mother explained to me the importance of a hope chest and gave me a set of pink dishes to save for my future family. Today, I have the same hope chest plus three more given to my children for their future families.
However, I don’t believe either one of my girls chests ever held dishes, linens or knick knacks for their future families. If I were to look in any one of their chests I would find high school memorabilia, favorite dance shoes, baskets, photos, scrap books and such. Inside of my chest lies a different array of items.
Southern girls know about hope chests regardless of whether or not they have one of their own. Modern day southern culture still dictates a young girl starts her collection of special items in preparation of her future home and family around 13 or 14 but sometimes they will receive one in their later teenage years.
According to Wikipedia, the collection of a trousseau was a common coming-of-age rite until approximately 1950, but being my mother began my collection in 1981 I think this fact may be inaccurate. My girlfriends all had hope chests and from time to time we would take a peek into one from time to time.
My friend Leigh began her chest at 15 years-old and gathered different items than myself as she started with linens and picture frames where I started with dishes and cutlery. Her chest was always neatly organized and she had big plans. Whereas, when I opened my chest the pink dishes were an enigma to me at 12 years-old.
Who would eat off of these dishes one day? Where would I find a pink tablecloth?
My chest was inherited and belonged to my great, great grandmother who travelled at some point. It’s a round top, antique chest which was stored away in a great aunt’s attic for years and was given to my mother in which she began my hope chest. Currently, it sits quietly in my living room and inside is a quirky array of memories: scrap books, favorite dolls of both mine and my girls, baby and kindergarten art, my husband’s favorite knick knacks from his childhood bedroom, two special blankets, a large bride doll, my wedding shoes, a bag of my children’s baby teeth (labeled for each child), and old newspaper clippings of articles I wrote a long time ago with two manuscripts I wrote in the 90’s.
It holds my mother’s wedding dress and my grandfather’s christening gown. I also have a braid of my great, great grandmother’s hair. My chest now collects memories of days gone by. When I open it now, it stirs happy emotions and sweet reminiscing.
I think back to the day when I was twelve and opened the chest and wondered who and what would it eventually hold. Now I know it holds a lifetime.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Treasure chest