There's such an irony to Cappy Hall Rearick's keepsake story. The empty hatbox she keeps and wrote about for Project Keepsake is not empty at all—it is full of life. Full of moments. Full of memories.
I devoured Cappy's story from beginning to end. I, too, am a hat person and can mark certain eras of my life by the hats that occupied my closet shelf. But it wasn't just our mutual love of chapeaus (or chapeaux) that drew me to her story. I love the way Cappy wove her story with familiar imagery. I love the references to divas of the past. I love her choice of words—"dismal mood is invaded," pieces of my past leap to life," "the cusp of teenagery," "plu-purple fit," "chunky pubescent elf," and "it held transitions of a young girl's life."
She ends her story with, "There is a hatbox in everyone's life." I believe this to be true. I often say, "Everyone has a keepsake, and every keepsake has a story to tell."
Enjoy Cappy's story!
Cappy Hall Rearick is a syndicated humor columnist and author of six books. She lives in Saluda, North Carolina, that town that time forgot.
What about you? Do you have a keepsake story? I encourage you to share your story with family and friends. Share the origins and histories of the most special keepsakes in your possession. Write down the stories that matter. Keep storytelling alive!
To read other stories about keepsakes and the memories they hold, please purchase a signed copy of Project Keepsake by clicking the link on the left. It's on sale now with no shipping and handling charges. And by the way, it's a great Christmas gift or birthday gift for a loved one, especially when paired with a keepsake.
If you live in Northwest Georgia, buy from one of these small businesses—Dave & Pauli's Art Emporium in Dalton, Cottage Treasures in Ringgold, Blue Willow Antiques in Cave Spring, The Lighthouse in Calhoun, the Harris Arts Center in Calhoun, or A Gift of Season in Calhoun, and the Payne Farm Vegetable Stand in Lily Pond.