Tea Towel Trading Time

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Every Christmas that I can remember, back to my great, great grandmother,

The tradition of trading towels for the kitchen was long standing.

Then, it happened.

Three sons were born.

The first married, and happily carried on the custom without question.

The next married, however in the middle of her first gathering,

She questioned out loud…“Why do we, all trade towels?”

No one could answer exactly.

Mostly everyone was quiet.

The next year, no towels were traded.

All were sad as the holidays approached and no new kitchen decorations?

There were no cookie parties or pies, traded wrapped in treasured odds and ends.

The cookies themselves were still delicious; all was still okay, yet…

The next year, all received towels from the second wife.

There was much crying and celebrating, but no words spoken except in joy!

The third son married.

The young wife of the last son could not yet understand the importance of her place.

The yearly gathering came.

This time again the second wife was not quiet.

In fact, she spoke right up, this family had traditions.

“We honor them, as we honor each other.”

The women gathered, they smiled and hugged.

The truth, they were never trading towels at all, but something intangible

Except by the remnants, we call family and friends.

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