Writer's Choice: The Good Stuff

[alynwa.livejournal.com]

The Good Stuff

Why I Like It:  I wrote this Picfic tale to illustrate the difference in thinking between the Greatest Generation and Baby Boomers.  Every mother of all my friends had "special company" items, dishes, glasses and in one instance, a ROOM that was for company only.  This is my response to that nonsense.

The link goes to AO3.

Comments

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Ah my beautiful Russian tea set immortalized. Loved this story! Sadly I grew up with things that were never to rarely used, and that has influenced me somewhat. The last time I used the unusable, crystal stemware, several pieces were broken and can never be replaced...so that's the sad part of using what's special...there's always the risk. sigh...

[alynwa.livejournal.com]

I think all of us of a certain age grew up with things that were never or rarely used which is the point of the story. Yes, things can break, but in the end, I think never using something because it might break is just silly. I may not allow someone to use something I deem valuable, but I will use it, which is the main point of the story: There is nothing in my possession that is too good for me to use.

I do love that set of yours, too.

[franciskerst.livejournal.com]

I grew up among people (and not especially wealthy people) who all had two special rooms for hosting their guests: the lounge and the dinner room, while the family life usually took place in the kitchen! (a very large kitchen, often the main room in the house). Of course this was in the countryside, where the most ordinary houses (I mean, for the "not-rich-not-poor") were large and there was no lack of space. In Paris of course, even having a specific place where to have your meal ouside the kitchen or the living room was a luxury and a mark of wealth. Even now I have, from my "ancestors", much, much more "never-to-be-used" crystal and china ware than useful and used dishes and glasses. Everytime I use a piece, I break it! So the stock is slowly diminishing.

[alynwa.livejournal.com]

Ah, so you completely understand this story! I used to date a guy whose family never used the living room unless company was visiting. I wasn't considered "company" so when I was there I was in the kitchen with the family. They were the first, but not the last, folks I met with a room in their home that the inhabitants of the house were not allowed to be. That was the beginning of my re-thinking my opinion about The Good Stuff.

[franciskerst.livejournal.com]

Yes but I don't like much using those things because I feel they still belong to my aunts, grand-parents and other passed away members of my family. That's stupid because where they are now they certainly don't care about china and crystal or furniture. Anyway the furniture has been burned by a fire years ago and I or others have broken almost all the old crystal glasses. Your aunt Amy was right; I'm not.

[kleenexwoman.livejournal.com]

Hah, very different generations...My mom got some very nice china and suchlike when she married, and my dad insisted that we only use it for holidays, but then decided that each holiday ranked paper plates and plastic forks (we have large families with small children). When they divorced, Mom kept the "good stuff" and used it each Friday for takeout pizza night. I've drunk Faygo from crystal goblets.

[alynwa.livejournal.com]

That's awesome!