My favorite possession, now deceased, was a big beautiful chestnut mare whom we showed in driving and she was undefeated through out her entire show career. She was a sweet mare, but full of fire and with a huge lofty trot that captivated everyone who saw her. She won a US National Championship for us and was retired to the broodmare band when her show career was over. She was the love of my life. She was a daughter of the great Arabian stallion Huckleberry Bey, who was also much beloved by us.

GT, Suzanne de Cornelia recently recommended “Seabiscuit” as a favorite book. I received the movie and book a few years ago. Enjoyed the movie a couple of times, but never got around to reading the book until this weekend. It’s a new understanding of everything involved with horse racing. A great book. Congratulations on your beautiful mare and the joy she brought you. Thanks to Suzanne, too, for suggesting “Seabiscuit”.

If my house caught on fire or a flood was imminent, I would save my prized possession: My Family Tree books. I have been doing geneaology since 1978. Included therein are photos, marriage licenses, death certificates, baptisms, original stories - our whole family history. My father’s side of the family is traced back to the 1500’s and has been published; my Mom’s is traced to pre-Civil War era. Everything is documented.

Without question: my books and family pictures.

I was in a panic the other day because we couldn’t find our ice pick….we figured my daughter had taken it camping, to a party, somewhere and lost it. Sounds silly but this was my mother’s ice pick, possibly my grandmothers. It has a nice sturdy wooden handle and it is one of those functional things that I have from my family and use rather than something hidden away in safety deposit box. When I asked my daughter about it, she teased me that we must be the only family that has an “ice pick heirloom”, and that was just a little creepy in her mind. Luckily, we did find the ice pick and it lies back in its correct drawer ready for use. But up until then, I didn’t know what such a common, old, everyday object meant to me. I grew up with that ice pick! And to think, someday I can leave it to my only daughter. Won’t she be thrilled. She says its like something from a slasher movie….

I would say my child, but, I truly feel that people are not possessions but, time spent with them is a gift. I think that each time my son creates a piece of art for me it becomes my most prized possession. If it is not a gift from him, it is a gold shaped heart necklace, that my mother gave me years ago. She got it from a beau and really did not like it. It was from her and I love it as each time I see it I realize how much she gave up to raise all 5 of us. Pictures of her and my son are high up there, but, my memories are up there too. If I lost the necklace, the photos, I would morn. But, no possession is worth the value and love of a child. I value that most.

My favorite is my car. A Sebring convertable! I love the wind in my hair and the sun on my face. Makes me feel alive!!

One of my favorite possessions is my memory jar that my nine kids gave me for Mother’s Day three years ago. Each child had to write 41 memories from their childhood to present day and put them in a jar. Everyday I had to choose a slip of paper with a memory and guess who wrote it. This took me a little over a year. I saved all of them and someday when we are all together I will see if I guessed right. I treasure that jar!

My Mother’s rosary….she died 47-years ago….priceless to me.