The Red Bowl

Toys are a huge part of childhood memories. Not many of my childhood memories revolve around toys because quite frankly we did not have that many. I mean we got the yearly slinky and an occasional calculator, but I don’t mean to brag. I did not have many of the “gotta have” toys. We were what you would now call “economically challenged.” I do have a few favorite memories of special Christmases and special birthday where I received gifts that I, at the time, believed were special because ever other kid on the planet also had them.  However, looking back on childhood, the best memories revolve around what we did not have and how we compensated.

My sister and I did manage to have a couple of barbies. Our barbies did not have dream anything. In our house, barbie lived how we lived…”frugal.”  Barbie had no need for a closet. In fact,  until my Aunt Bonnie sent us some homemade barbie clothes, her fashion choices were quite limited. Poor girl was in that workout suit … a lot. As an aside, I did not realize until many years later that our barbies were better dressed than most. I mean, c’mon, tailor made outfits and everyone else had to buy off the rack. Hats off to Aunt Bonnie and her talents. Love you.  My barbie actually had a fur stole. Suck it Peaches and Cream Barbie.

My sister and my barbies had too sleep on custom made beds of blue jeans covered in slips with sock as pillows. The rooms of our barbies’ dream house were outlined with books. We were young contractors and did not even realize it. Our barbies house was a sprawling ranch instead of the so “overdone” multi-floor plastic mansion.

For recreation, our barbies had the very best in above ground pools. Our barbies swam and lounged in the limited edition red Pyrex bowl that belonged to my grandmother.  Now when  the barbies were not in immediate need of hosting a party, the bowl had an almost as important function. It was the dish of choice for my mother’s world famous potato salad and, on occasion,  other less recognizable foods. Every family get together the red bowl was front and center. It always contained potato salad.  Always. My mom is not known for being the best cook, but what she does cook, she cooks well and people ask for it specifically. It just occurred to me that maybe they assigned her a dish so she would not attempt something else. Well, whatever the reason, the red bowl was known in the family to be from momma. It was also known between my sister and myself as the go to pool  for any rocking barbie pool party.

Family heirlooms come in all shape and sizes. Some want the jewelry to be handed down in the family. While my mom, who is still living by the way, has a stunning collection of costume jewelry, I wanted the red bowl. If there was one item in my life that was a constant, despite the endless moves, and ever changing houses, it was the red bowl. Barbie always had a place to swim and the potato salad always had its own showcase dish.

I thought I was going to have to fight siblings for this dish. I was prepared for the fight. By being prepared, I mean I secretly asked my momma,”Hey can I have grandma’s red bowl?” She just gave it to me. No council of the family had to be called and we did not have to decide this “Hunger Games” style.

Now, every time I serve Mary Helen’s potato salad, it has to be in the red bowl. This bowl is older than I am. It is probably getting close to 60 or more years old. However, as I type this, I can see the red bowl. I have some open shelving and it is  still front and center.

Never place the importance of an item on what it costs. That red bowl was my grandmothers, my mothers, and now it is mine. Hopefully one day it will live in the kitchen of one of my children. History comes in many forms. Sometimes it stories. Sometimes it is pictures. Sometimes it is Pyrex red bowls.

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