Keeping a promise - the story of the blue glass

With my graduation from college, finally, just one week away, I am looking back on many of the experiences that I have had that have shaped my life.  So many people....family and friends...supported me in my craziness, at times literal craziness, to get me to where I am today and where I will be next week.  I cannot thank each of you enough for what you have done for me.  And even though I have done a lot of stupid things in my adulthood, I would not change any of those experiences because it has made me who I am today.  Ok, that's a lie.  I would be better with my money.  But, otherwise, I'm satisfied from all of the learning I have done in this thing we call life.

Anyway, today I'm going to talk about the blue glass.

Mom's best friend, Janet, was always very good to me.  Sometimes, undeservedly so.  Still, she was a constant in my life for a long time and I do miss her.  After Mom died, Janet was especially attentive to me.  It was a crucial time in my life and she knew that I felt lost..which I totally did.  We spent a lot of time together during that period and went on several wonderful trips.

Janet had a collection of blue glass that I loved.  One of her aunts had inherited the collection from a coworker when she worked at Carson Newman.  Janet kept the collection boxed up in a neighbor's basement.  Being the antiques enthusiast that I was (I still am, but not as gung ho as an adult because my house is full), I thought it simply tragic that this beautiful collection was stashed away somewhere not being admired.

Shortly before Mom died, Janet brought over half of the collection to me via my brother Bill and a truck.  I think it was shortly before Bill and Heidi got married.  I could be wrong, but that's what I remember.  Anyway, Janet gave these pieces to me under the stipulation that I graduate from college.  Sure, I thought...no problem.  Little did I know that life had other plans for me for the next few decades.

After Mom's death, I floundered in school and eventually decided to take some time off.  Dad seemed ok with it, whether or not he was that's what he presented to me.  But, Janet was not happy with my decision.  Her fear was that I would not finish my education.  Statistically, she had a point as many people who drop out of college never return.  Still, it was what I needed to do at the time and I don't regret my choice.

Life for me has had many ups and downs and now I have found myself back in college, preparing to graduate.  While I'm very excited and proud of this, I am very reflective right now...which I don't mind at all.  Janet died several years ago.  We had lost touch and were not as close as we once were.  I take total blame for that...but that's an entirely different blog I will write one day.  However, in her will, Janet left me the remainder of the blue glass collection.  I was grateful to be remembered by her, but I also knew what she was telling me from beyond the grave:  go back to school.  I always had in the back of my mind Janet's stipulation for giving me the blue glass.  Over the years, I have sold many pieces...given many pieces away, etc.  But, I do cherish each piece wherever it is in the world today because it has been one of my motivators.

So, I thank Janet for what she did for me.  I feel that I have earned the blue glass finally and I am proud of that.  It may have taken me 42 years, but whatever.  I'm not always the best at keeping promises because I get easily sidetracked.  But this one I kept, even if it took me awhile.

Cheers