It's the Tiny Things - The Plates in My Life

Stories told through the tables we sit at ✨

I traveled to Palm Springs for Spring Break to watch my cousin get married. It was a surreal moment of symmetry; over thirty years ago, I took this same trip to see her mother get married. That original trip is the reason I ended up living in California. I fell in love with the Southern California weather, the heavy scent of jasmine in March, and the way the palm trees seemed to reach for the stars.

When I arrived at the wedding and found my seat, this was my namecard:

My cousin is a veterinarian, and she brought that passion into the celebration by placing photos of rescue dogs and her patients at every seat. Each guest was matched with a dog that reminded her of them. Of course, mine was a pug. We are a family of animal lovers – whether we are artists or healthcare professionals, we always find a place for our furry friends.

It’s incredible how time marks itself through the people we love. I found myself thinking of how young my cousin was when I got married, or how small my daughter was when we moved into our current home.

When I sat down at that pug placard, it immediately reminded me of a specific plate we have at home. It was a gift from a neighbor when my daughter was only three. Back then, we had a pug named Max. My daughter used to take him out onto the balcony daily to re-enact The Wizard of Oz – she was Dorothy, and he, of course, was Toto. Our neighbor, who shared the balcony, would delight in finding them there when she left for work.

That plate still makes it to our table almost every day. It’s well-loved – as you can see – it acquired a chip. At first, the crack saddened me. But then I remembered the morning it happened: the sound of my daughter accidentally dropping it while proudly making her own breakfast. Now, that chip just reminds me of the years of packing her school lunches and our morning walks to class.

They used to sell these plates at Anthropologie, and for a second, I considered replacing it with a "perfect" one. But then I thought of Wabi-sabi – the Japanese concept that imperfection is what gives an object its soul. It is an appreciation for the story that lives within the cracks.

When I sit down for a meal. This is my plate.

I found this plate at a thrift store. It made me happy. My daughter is a bit jealous of my plate. She eyeballs it. I tell her she is welcome to pick out her own plate. But we all know, she can’t quite give up the pug one.

You might notice a tiny pancake in the photo. My husband handles breakfast most mornings, and pancakes are the house favorite. He always saves the last bit of batter to make one miniature pancake at the very end – just because he knows how much I love tiny things.

So I ask you: What plate do you eat on? What are the stories hidden in your everyday objects?

Until Next Time 🌙 ✨
Kim

P.S. I also invite you to leave your Tiny Things below! Spread delight to all of us who love to read them.