Being reminded of my good fortune
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382328)
Rockingham, Australia
February 23, 2020 6:36am CST
I wrote about the crystal necklace I received for my 21st birthday. To celebrate the momentous day when I became officially ‘adult’, we invited a number of family and friends to a small hall for a dance. There was usually a ceremonial ‘key’ which was presented to the guest of honour. The key would open out and everyone would sign it.
I received some lovely gifts and a few days later I drove my great-aunt and uncle out to the farm to show them my presents. They hadn’t been able to go to the evening celebration.
I remember being quite stunned when my great-uncle said ‘I celebrated my 21st in the trenches at Gallipoli’. I’m sure he didn’t mean to rain on my parade but I found it very humbling. He was gassed during the war and from then on suffered a terrible stammer.
Music boxes were fashionable at the time and the photo shows two lovely ones that I received when I turned 21. One has a lot of shells are decoration
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16 responses
@snowy22315 (209054)
• United States
23 Feb 20
I'm impressed you still have them. Anything I had from that period of time is long gone, although I do have some items in a storage locker. I really do need to go through that..I keep putting it off.
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@snowy22315 (209054)
• United States
24 Feb 20
@JudyEv Well you do have young people in your life. Maybe they will want them.
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@JudyEv (382328)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Feb 20
@snowy22315 Actually, since writing this, I've thought of two sisters who might like these.
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
23 Feb 20
beautiful box, tough story from your uncle.
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@JudyEv (382328)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Feb 20
@DocAndersen It must be so hard for most of them and especially if they've been wounded.
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
24 Feb 20
@JudyEv i met the founder of wounded warriors a few years ago. It is a charity set up to help wounded soldiers operate on their own.
My boss at the time introduced me to the founder.
He was the largest human being I have ever met.
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@besweet (9831)
• Ireland
23 Feb 20
Becoming adults is such a wonderful memorable moment. In my home, we celebrate at the age of 18 and it's a big moment too.
Keeping important objects from our past and revisiting the memories after many years can make us emotional and nostalgic for the old times.
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@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
24 Feb 20
yes, we also had jewelry boxes with music playing. some had a tiny ballerina dancing.
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@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
23 Feb 20
This is lovely that you have those memories to look back on Judy.
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@JudyEv (382328)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Feb 20
Not quite a slap in the face but it did spoil the moment a bit. He would never have wanted to upset me. It was just a statement of fact.
@aninditasen (18198)
• Raurkela, India
24 Feb 20
Your music boxes look fabulous but sorry to hear about your great uncle.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382328)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Feb 20
Thanks. Some of the men came back - and still come back - very damaged.
@amitkokiladitya (171988)
• Agra, India
23 Feb 20
Wow...these boxes still remain so good as new.
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@amitkokiladitya (171988)
• Agra, India
26 Feb 20
@JudyEv yes that can be the reason they look new
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@Juliaacv (56350)
• Canada
23 Feb 20
Both of the boxes are pretty, I like the ones with the shells the best I think.
My mother has a very simple looking music box that was my Grandmother's.
It is made from steel and is just a small ball, you can take the 'top' off of it and you have a little dish like surface to put rings in. The music box plays such a sweet song, and it is so very old.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
23 Feb 20
Fascinating about your uncle. We all know about Gallipoli.
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