Trip of a Lifetime
by Maribeth Benson
My husband and I just got back from the trip of a lifetime to
Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland. Let me emphasize “trip of a
lifetime”, as the last time we both had the opportunity to visit the
country of our roots (Ireland) was, let’s see… NEVER! So naturally I
wanted to preserve the joy of everywhere we went and everything we saw
with a souvenir from every shop we visited!
After shopping our way through four countries, one of our last
stops was the Blarney Mills in Ireland. My Visa card started doing a
jig within 5 miles of the Mill and then a full-on reel as I entered
the store! I instantly spotted a heavenly display, that I am sure was
hastily arranged just for me when they received the text that I was on
the bus pulling up. It was a whole presentation of Irish linens,
cottons, laces and baby clothes! I had to sit a moment to contain
myself but the vibration of my credit card propelled me towards these
gorgeous turn of the century children’s nighties. You know, the kind
you would see in a 1920 Christmas movie. Made of proper 100% Irish
white linen, with long, gathered lace-edged sleeves, 4 mother-of-pearl
buttons adorning the bodice, 6 pleated tucks on the hemline and Irish
lace peeking out from underneath, and embellished with petite pink
embroidered angels flying ethereally throughout the garment.
My sweet grandbabies came to mind as I pictured them with their
copper tresses tied up in satin ribbons, holding the edges of their
nighties as they curtsied to the camera. Yes, it was obvious I had to
buy them, especially since I realized the Lord’s blessing was all over
this purchase. Amazingly enough there was just one size 3 left and one
size 6. A miracle I would say!
Now to get the husband to disappear for 5 min so I could make this
purchase without any silly discussion that there was no longer any
room in our luggage to get anything home. Again, my prayer was
answered… I screamed, “Squirrel!”, he left my side, and I was granted
my 5 minutes of buying frenzy.
When we got home we reminisced about the trip through all the
pictures taken and all the gifts that we brought home tied to the tail
section of our airplane.
The first recipient of one of the heavenly sent Irish nighties was
for my 2 year-old grandbaby, Maggie. My son Facetimed me so I could
see her twirling and dancing about their living room in her beautiful
new nightie, it was just what I had envisioned her doing when she
tried it on. I was thrilled that the month of eating peanut butter and
jelly sandwiches and WWII rations to afford this trip weren’t for
naught.
My daughter, living on the east coast, received her package of
love from Ireland several days later and she, too, Facetimed me. There
was no twirling and dancing about their living room. Rather, there
stood my 4 year-old granddaughter, Lorelai, wearing her gown, her
angelic face looking straight into the camera. I exclaimed, “Oh,
Lorelai, you look so pretty! Do you love it?” To which she replied,
“Gammie, what were you thinking?”
Not exactly the emotion I imagined. Once again I exclaimed, “Don’t
you love it?” and once again, but a bit more dramatic, with her arms
reaching out to me in a questionable gesture, she repeated, “Gammie,
what were you thinking?!”
At this point I was thinking, her 2 year-old cousin, Maggie, would
soon be inheriting a brand new, never worn, size 6 Irish linen nightie
from the Blarney Mills in Ireland that I had to smuggle home on the
tail section of a 767. A little disappointed with her reaction, the
Lord reminded me that He has asked me numerous times, “What were you
thinking?” And, amazingly, unlike my reaction to Lorelai, He never
gets disappointed with me!
However, from now on I’ll just shop at Wal-Mart for flannel
Spongebob Squarepants pjs…
Maribeth Benson, a.k.a. “GammieMaribeth”
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