The rubber band

When Tommy and I got married, we had very little as far as money goes, but it never bothered us.  We just adjusted.  Because money was scarce I made most of our clothes.  I made all of my dresses (yes I wore those things back in the day!)  I also made clothes for Tommy and the boys.  I could get a remnant off the remnant table at the material store for 50 cents and make one of the boys a pair of pajamas.  I even made a suit for Tommy once and I made him several ties. 

My sisters always wanted me to make clothes for them as well, so I did.  One time my sister Millie, wanted me to make her a winter coat!    It wasn't easy, but it turned out beautifully!

Not too long after I made that coat, Millie went to be with the Lord.  Mother said I should keep the coat, so I did.  The first time I put it on, I put my hand down inside the pocket and found one of those tiny little rubber bands that people use on their teeth when they have braces.  Not too long before Millie died, she had had braces put on her teeth. She had always wanted them and was finally able to get them!  

As I stood there looking at that tiny little rubber band, a great sadness came over me.  Not only for me, but for all of the people that my sister's death touched including her new babies, Tony and Anlyn.  (They were 4 and 9 months when Millie died.)

Even something as small as a rubber band...and not even a large rubber band...can bring back memories.  I never wore that coat again.  I gave it away.

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