The Tea Set

This little set of teaspoons was sent from England to the United States by a young man to his mother during the second world war. The young man was named Leroy Erickson and his mother was my husbands grandmother, Hannah Lilya Erickson. His big sister was my future mother-in-law, Violet. Violet, or grandma as I called her when my kids were born, gave these spoons and many, many other articles to Rachel when she would come to our house for dinner. She always brought a little gift for Rachel. Some of these gifts were broken pins or knick-knacks others were very special things. It didn't matter to Grandma - she wanted Rachel to have them.

This little tea set is very important to me because I know how much Grandma loved her brother. I know because she told us about him. How fun he was, how kind. The things they did together as children and the things she wished they could have done as they got older. They never had a chance to do that because Leroy's plane was shot down and the young bombardier was killed when his plane crashed soon after he sent this gift to his mother. Grandma kept him alive for us all these years.

Grandma died three years ago and so when I polish these spoons and display them in a place of honor, I think of that young man who never grew old. I think of the youthful pride he took in telling his mother that they were "pure sterling silver" and I feel that in some small way I am keeping both of their memories alive. Violet Eva Mathilda was the most wonderful woman I have ever known. And now you know a little bit about her, too.