My mom was thrifty. She did not believe in using credit cards and even in her 70’s, she refused to use a debit card and opted to pay cash for even simple purchases like groceries, gas or a meal out. She was known to squirrel away a wad of bills in a sock drawer or other hiding place because she liked to have cash on hand in case of an emergency and preferred leaving her savings accounts untouched. She also always made sure the people around her were well cared for and did not go without. However, when it came to herself, she spent little money. She shopped for bargains and was not someone who wasted money on buying excessive amounts of clothing, jewelry or household items.
Mom’s biggest indulgence was books, most of which came from the local library and did not accumulate. However, in her late 60’s, my mom found a collectible item that she loved. These items were Cameo Girls lady head vases. Each time we visited my mom and dad’s home, her glass display case was filled with more Cameo Girls vases. I remember her excitement at showing me the nurse themed vase (mom was a registered nurse) and she was particularly fond of all the period themed vases such as the roaring 20’s and girls from the 50’s. My mom had a dear friend who also collected Cameo Girl vases and I am almost certain that this friend had a lot to do with my mom starting up her own collection.
It makes me happy to think of my mom collecting these treasured vases and spending money on herself for something she enjoyed. Like all her belongings, my mom took care of her vases. Each vase she bought was lovingly displayed and my mom had very thoughtfully kept all the original packaging and had a handwritten list that outlined each doll and its respective value.
In her will, mom left her collection of 35+ Cameo Girl vases to myself and my niece. While I find the thought of my mom loving to collect these vases and thinking enough of her collection to pass them down in her will very touching, the love of Cameo Girls vases ended with my mom. I find the vases mildly disturbing, and nothing I want to collect nor display. Because the vases mattered to my mom, I do not have the heart to throw them away. I know that my mom viewed the vases as an investment and something of value. The difficult truth is that this collection, like any other collection, is only worth what people are willing to pay.
There is some comfort in knowing the collection of Cameo Girls vases are not by themselves in the basement. I have a collection of Madame Alexander dolls that my mom and her mom started for me almost 50 years ago. I collected and received the dolls for special occasions throughout my childhood and they are all carefully packaged in our basement. Again, they are only worth what someone is willing to pay, and I do not have anyone in my family who I think would want the collection when I die. Unless I am suddenly hit with an inspiration to sell both collections, there is a strong chance that my sons will be left to deal with both the Cameo Girls and Madame Alexander collections……among other weird, non-valuable items my husband and I have cluttered our home with over the past 35 years. I like to think of this responsibility as a rite of passage and who knows, maybe both collections will be worth a ton of money in 20 years?
