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Bells Are Ringing

On this day in 1971 my mom married my stepfather. It was a beautiful candlelight ceremony, held in the little chapel of our church. I was, at 6 years old, the cutest flower girl ever, but I insisted that everyone call me a bridesmaid. The reception, for family and very close friends only, was at our house afterward.

When the evening ended my mom took the bell off the top of the wedding cake and she hung it on our Christmas tree. Every year she lovingly packed that bell away and every December 10th she hung it on the Christmas tree. This went on until Christmas 1998, when she wasn’t there to hang it up anymore. My dad never put up a tree after that and a few years ago he gave me all of their old ornaments to hang on our tree. The bell, however, wasn’t with them and I assumed that he threw it away, as he threw so much away after my mom died.

And then this summer Dale was sorting through some things in the garage and he came across a box that we had taken from my dad’s house last winter. He called to me and said I should take a look and there, wrapped in tissue paper, was the bell.

wedding bell full size

It has disintegrated some but it is remarkable how much remains considering that it is 38 years old and made of sugar.

wedding bell edge

I brought it in the house and saved it to blog about it today. My plan was to take some pictures to preserve it and then throw it away.

wedding bell edge

You know what, though? I think I’m going to hang it on my Christmas tree one last time.

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad.

This Post Has 54 Comments

  1. What a lovely story! It is amazing how humidity and time haven’t reduced it to a small unrecognizable pile.

  2. What a beautiful memory!! I’m such a saver-I keep everything!! You should wrap it up and gift it to Hannah! 🙂

  3. What a beautiful story. Some things are meant to be. The pictures are beautiful. Why not capture it for the future in an ornament frame?

  4. I can’t believe it is still intact. What a great memory. I wonder if there is a way to preserve it? Then Hannah can have it. Enjoy it!

  5. What a beautiful little treasure for you this year! I wonder if you could find a sugar baker that could help you restore it? Most upscale hotels have sugar bakers. It is just so pretty and means so much to you that it would be wonderful if it could be saved.

  6. Carole, what a very touching story. Not sure if you are really going to throw it away (sniff) but as you place it on your tree you should photograph it to put with your other photos of the ornament. Wouldn’t it be a beautiful ephemera layout to include a wedding photo of your parents. And of course you as the “bridesmaid/flowergirl”… along with any other materials to complete the memory. Thanks for the wonderful story.

  7. What a charming story. And how wonderful to re-discover it, and that your dad had held onto it. May it bring you special joy this season.

  8. What a sweet story. (no pun intended) I love that you insisted on being called a bridesmaid. Kids are funny like that. Enjoy the bell and the memories!

  9. What a wonderfully sentimental and sweet story, it brought tears to my eyes … in a good way 🙂 I agree, perhaps there is some way to preserve it, or at every least photograph it and hang a photo frame on your tree in the years to come!

  10. Such a nice story. Can you spray the bell with polyurethane or the like to preserve it further? What a treasure.

  11. Maybe I’m just a sentimental packrat but I say you should keep it. There is nothing like holding the actual object in your hands….

  12. What a beautiful story.Absolutely your tree should be adorned with that bell! And how nice that Dale found it. How amazing that it is still intact at all, given its age. Thanks for sharing your memory.

  13. Sweet! People keep saying to save it. Perhaps you could add it to your compost and then you can add it to your flowerbeds next year and in my way of thinking, that is a way to “save” it- as new life. Of course you will always have the pictures of this year. I hope you will post a picture of your tree with the bell!
    Many Blessing Carole and family!

  14. Okay. I’m all sniffly and it’s your fault. I hope you’re proud of yourself, missy. ;^)

    What a lovely story and what a wonderful Dale for finding it after all these years.

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