Crystal Mother

How a Crystal Figurine Affected Three Generations – Part 1

Sometimes the smallest thing can set off a chain reaction of activities that are so powerful it can have a lasting effect on the people involved. Betty, Alice, John and Mark were those people.

John loved taking his family to his mother-in-law’s house for Sunday dinner. Aside from being a superb cook, Alice’s mother, Betty, was a trained classical pianist. John loved music and coaxed Betty to play for them after every dinner. The family was entertained with the beautiful music of Beethoven, Mozart, Bach and music by all the great masters.

Betty had a wonderful touch and interpretation of the classical music. John would look out the living room window and see people walking by the house stopping to listen.

Unfortunately, age and crippling arthritis of the fingers and hands brought Betty’s playing days to a close. Betty gave the piano to Alice and John so Mark would have an opportunity to learn to play. The house was sold and Betty moved into a small apartment. Sunday dinners were no longer the same. Often the time after dinner was subdued and conversation was sparse. John knew his mother-in-law was hurting inside, missing those little family concerts and her passion, playing the piano.

Sunday dinners for a long time were, at best, depressing. Alice’s mother lost her drive and her sense of worth. When it came to Betty’s birthday, John suggested getting a small piano figurine. Alice wasn’t keen on the idea, but eventually agreed. John knew his mother-in-law was very fond of crystal so he purchased a crystal piano figurine.

When Betty opened her gift on her birthday, she was ecstatic. She thought the piano figurine was beautiful and placed it on her desk next to a small antique lamp. When she turned the light on the figurine sparkled as crystal is known to do. She was so pleased with the gift; tears welled up in her eyes. She turned to Alice, John and little Mark and gave them all a hug and a thank you. She told them how pleased she was with the gift.

John noticed a dramatic change in his mother-in-law. She seemed to be enthused again. Betty proceeded to tell her family how the crystal figurine reminded her of a small toy piano her parents had given her one year for Christmas. She said “I knew then that I wanted to learn to play the piano”. I pleaded with my parents for two years before they gave in and allowed me to take lessons.

Driving home, Alice and John exchanged comments about how pleased they were to see Alice’s mother be enthused and regain her old spark. However, they were concerned that it might only be temporary. They were in for a big surprise. After their next dinner together, Betty gathered the family around and picked up the crystal piano. She said to them “This figurine brings back so many memories and I want to tell them to you”. She proceeded to tell them how, as a teenager, she played in the nickelodeons adding dramatic music to the silent films so that she could earn money to pay for her music lessons.

On another visit, Betty told the story of how, at the age of 19, she performed her first concert in front of an audience of over 1,000 people in a well-known music hall. She said she rummaged through the closet and pulled out clippings of newspaper reviews of her performance for Alice and John to read.

John and Alice were intrigued that the crystal piano figurine they gave Betty had such a positive effect on her. They were pleased that they saw new life and energy in Betty. The question in their minds was how long this would last. They could never imagine that this was only the beginning of how this crystal piano figurine would generate a long series of Betty’s memories and stories that Alice had never heard before.

This was the beginning of how a crystal figurine affected the first generation.

About the Author

Lowry Mell is a retired Merchandiser and former Marketing and Business Consultant. His articles focus on new and creative ways to use and display crystal and crystal figurines. For more information, visit: http://www.CrystalSplendor.com

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