I was so touched by your responses (in the comments, via email, via DM) to my post on what we inherit from our grandmothers that I wanted to share a couple of the lustrous, poetic legacies you sent my way. They were too precious not to showcase. I found it interesting that there were a number of overlaps across these messages — a lot of us inherited charm bracelets, names, crossword puzzle skills, recipes, and a love of books from our Nanas and Mimis and Tipsies (a new term of endearment I discovered when I asked you all these questions). I found the repetitions fascinating; it made me think that grandparents occupy such a special place in our lives and can “own” certain recreations in ways our parents typically don’t, teaching us, for example, the rules of card games and the patience required of crosswords and proofing cinnamon rolls. Like maybe our parents were busy putting food on the table and handling homework and carpool — but we were able to observe our grandparents in positions of pastime, and that’s a beautiful thing.
A couple of my favorite haiku-like responses to the prompt:
“Her tape measure. Random, but makes me think of her every time I use it.”
“Her necklaces, her candy dish, her photo albums.”
“Her notes in the margins of books: I see her handwriting and suddenly I am next to her.”
“A generous bosom (her words LOL), always having candy in my purse, straight talking.”
“Hand-sewn quilts, fried chicken recipe, a love of musicals.”
“The ability to see the silver lining and the good in nearly everyone.”
“Love of lipstick. Tenacity.”
“A little Texas sass.”
Whew! So many of these would make evocative album titles, don’t you think?
More acutely, and I know I am a long way from grandmother territory, but these miniature portraits made me feel so tender about the things that our loved ones will eventually remember us for. What legacy will I leave? What will my children and their children remember about me, Jen Shoop, at some point destined to be the interim family matriarch? I hope it is softness; I hope it is love; I hope it is attention. All the things my grandmothers gave me. But it could also be some practical object — the tape measure, the patinaed candy dish — that keeps us around. It could also be book marginalia, in loopy script or small block letters. It could be a pronation towards kindness and praise, a fried chicken recipe, poppy red lipstick. We are always giving ourselves away, you know?
Post-Scripts.
+A few of you asked for a saveable copy of the bedtime prayer we inherited from a grandmother in our family — I’m sharing here:
+On writing down what you know about your grandparents.
Shopping Break.
+I don’t know how or why but the sale shopping gods are smiling on us – I just found another La Ligne gem on sale for 50% off here! (At time of writing, there were a handful of La Ligne Marin sweaters on sale for 40% off left here.)
+Hill House just released its biggest collection of the year, with new dress styles! I love The Halston for a summer wedding (reminds me of the dress Dakota Johnson wore in “The Materialists”) and have this wrap skirt in my cart. I’d style it with a white button-down and brown leather sandals. Also feel like this striped shirt dress would get a ton of wear in my closet.
+Speaking of white button-downs: my Tate arrived and…j’adore. The stand collar frames the face so beautifully and it’s a true oxford material — think RL oxford from your teen years — which gives it a great texture. Has good structure, an overlong length, and elegant seaming. I just think it makes such a powerful statement for a white button-down. (Also, very soft and body-skimming.). A good look for less in a different material: Tuckernuck (use code YOUROCK or YOURULE for 20% off).
+Elevated basics for summer: this burnout tee (I love love the drape of this top) and these black pull-on shorts in polished poplin.
+We’re prepping for sun: this lip SPF (have and love — the consistency is great and doesn’t feel like you’re applying sunscreen! glides on like a balm/gloss) and this (very chic) UPF-50 sunhat have been super popular among Magpies the past few days.
+OMG — this was the tenth item on my list of open tab fashion finds, and it was the bestseller of the bunch! I’m also tempted. The details are fantastic and I think we all trust Buck Mason.
+Our beloved Yves Durif brush is 20% off…! This is a top Magpie reader “regrettably worth it” item. I now own this and the La Bonne Brosse (I took no. 1 — it’s currently 15% off), and think they’re very different tools. If you’re splurging on one brush, I’d rec the YD. However, several readers have written in to say they own both and insist both are essential. The LBB gives you volume, shine — as if your hair was painted by Frank Weston Benson. It’s a perfect morning or evening brush to get all the tangles out and restore some order to your hair (lol). The YD is a fantastic detangler and I also find it really useful when you don’t want to “brush out” a curl or a style — it just sort of rakes through the hair without undoing the wave.
+Last minute mothers day buy: this set. Free expedited shipping so it will arrive in time! (Throw this seersucker set into the cart for yourself — so cute!!! I’d absolutely wear this out to the beach as a cover-up or around the house on a weekend.)
+New colors in the cashmere getaway sweater! Gorgeous!
+I like these new hybrid pieces Rhone is releasing — the kind of things you can wear while hiking, gardening, walking or also wear to lunch, like these seersucker shorts and this featherweight rib tee (that mist green color is so, so good). Reminder to use code SHOOP20 for a discount.
+A propos of this post: something I can’t recommend more for grandparents: the Aura frame. We gave them to my parents and my in-laws for Christmas and they still text me regularly thanking me for it, or send me a screenshot of whatever photo has been served up. My MIL sometimes runs downstairs to tell my FIL “you have to see this one!” It’s such a sweet and special way to keep grandbabies close!
+Speaking of photos – did you know Minted offers beautiful framed and matted photos now? I love this one for a boy’s room. A photo of mom and me :). You could also frame an 8×10 print of “Simple Things I Hope You Experience” in it!
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