I was surprised by tears the other night, when I sold our vintage baby bassinet.
The bassinet was handed down to me from my mother, and I only assume, she and my dad bought it, or were gifted with it, when I (or my brother) was born.
I’m not even sure why I became a little emotional when I put it on the front porch, because we used it more as a decoration these last three decades than for our newborns to sleep in. At one time someone suggested I put a fern in it and let the fronds drape over the sides. That sounds pretty, but I didn’t do that. Mostly I filled it with all our stuffed animals.
There is an endearing story about the stuffed animals in the bassinet. We had a sweet kitty cat named Caramel Corn (that was her coloring). She was a cat that liked people, and the indoors. When we moved to our house in Northfield, she oriented herself to her new digs. One day, shortly after we moved in, I couldn’t find her. I looked everywhere and she was not to be found. I thought, although it was highly unusual, maybe she snuck outside. So I waited, and hoped she’d find her way home.
A few hours later I went upstairs and out the corner of my eye I saw some movement towards the bassinet. I went over to check it out and to my surprise, there was Caramel Corn snuggled with all the stuffed animals in the bassinet! She looked so cozy. I was relieved she was safe and in the house.
The new buyer wanted the bassinet for that very night, but she couldn’t come at a time when we were home, so she asked if I would leave it on the porch for her to pick up. I placed the bassinet on the front porch (without the stuffed animals) and decided to trust her to leave the money under the mat (she did).
As I set the bassinet on the porch I thought of my own babies, and then about the baby that was to sleep in it that night. I figured, even if I didn’t get paid, it was a good feeling knowing a baby was going to be sleeping in the bassinet once again.
I would say your bassinet went to a mother who will deeply appreciate it and who will gaze upon her sweet baby fast asleep therein. That all said, your emotional response seems fitting given this bassinet was passed to you from your mother. It represents connection and memories and parting with the bassinet means letting go of a tangible piece of the past. That’s how I see it anyway. What a blessing this bassinet will be to a young family.
Thank you for the encouraging words, Audrey. I feel good about selling it.
I trust it will be a blessing for another sweet, young family.
What a tender, bittersweet moment! Parting with possessions that carry memories is always hard. But, like Audrey says, you are giving someone else a chance to make beautiful memories, too. Life is about making joy, sometimes for yourself, sometimes for others. You are making joy for someone else, and what a blessing that is!
Thank you Sheri.
That’s a wonderful way to look at it.
I can relate to your unexpected tears Valerie. When I moved to a smaller apartment in my early days in Northfield, I sold my bassinet that was used by my mother as she brought my three sisters and I home from the hospital. I had it for my son and daughter then decided to sell it years later. At the time, I sold the high chair also used by me and then my children. I took several photos of both before they were sold. Many happy memories! Love the story about Caramel Corn!
It sounds like you certainly can relate!
I did take photos of the bassinet…I do that with the things I want to remember, as I declutter!
Carmel Corn looks so content! I’m sure your babies were as well!
Caramel Corn was a special kitty cat.
And so were my babies! 🙂