The Table That Remembers

Posted on by Ilze

Today, I walked into my so-called “green room” — our special occasion dining space — and was instantly hit by a wave of scent and nostalgia. There it was: the black oak table, covered with a white cotton bed sheet, herbs spread out to dry in the warmth of summer.

I paused. I had seen this before. Not just in this house — but long ago, in a different time, in my grandmother’s home. The same setup, the same fragrance — maybe even the same kind of sheet. And here I am, doing the same thing she did. Drying herbs on the very table she used.

There’s something magical about that. The scent is hard to describe — a lot of mint, linden, chamomile, maybe yarrow or meadowsweet — but more than that, it smells like memory.

This table has been through so much. I didn’t plan for this moment. I just walked into the room and smiled. Sometimes, the most beautiful rituals are the ones that happen without planning — passed down through muscle memory, stories, and heart.

Do you have something like this passed down from your ancestors?

Ilze

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34 thoughts on “The Table That Remembers”

    1. Hazel, thank you! Yes, I often mix the herbs into tea blends or simple infusions, depending on what I feel like or need at the moment. Do you ever dry herbs or have a favorite calming tea?

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  2. You know what? I do! My father was born in 1920, when his mum was 40,
    and I have what I’m fairly sure is just a square of cotton which has had
    crochet add-ons in fine cotton, so much of it that it was a tablecloth.
    I use it as a Christmas tree “skirt” now, but it always stirs a little
    nugget of nostalgia. My dad died in 1979, and I never met his parents,
    so it’s a sad sort of feeling, but happy as well. Mm.

    Mandy

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    1. Mandy, what a beautiful story. That crocheted tablecloth turned Christmas tree skirt carries such depth—nostalgia wrapped in love and a bit of sadness too. Have you ever thought about writing down some of those inherited feelings or stories for the next generation?

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        1. Absolutely — that sounds like a wonderful idea. Those little memories and heirlooms often hold more meaning than we realize, especially when passed along with the stories behind them. Even a few handwritten notes can become treasures for your grandchildren one day. I can imagine that tablecloth, full of quiet history, making your Christmases feel a little more connected each year. 💫

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    1. Chef Mimi, thank you for the kind words! Do you have any rituals or spaces at home that bring up a familiar scent or memory like that?

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    1. John, I really appreciate your words! It truly was one of those small, quiet moments that stays with you. Is there an object in your life that connects you back to someone meaningful? I know you had a heart made out of car parts for your dad…

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      1. You’re welcome! Yes, those car parts have a very special meaning to me. That WABX sticker I posted a while back connects me to the 1980s, the best decade of my life!

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                1. Well, I’m supposed to work until 65 to get a pension—if it even exists by then. And only then I’m supposed to start enjoying freedom? That thought feels so depressing. So instead, I’ve started finding joy in small things now and allowing myself to take unpaid time off when I can. Life can’t just be about waiting.

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                2. …Well, it’s not like everyone’s lining up to understand Latvian—so I kind of have no choice! 😅 Also, Latvia is small! My mom doesn’t understand English, only Russian and a bit of German. Those two countries wanted to take us over.. Russia did.. I don’t know Russian, a bit… but not like English. In University, I learned Programming, and a lot of sources were in English, only a little in Latvian….

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    1. Eha, I could almost feel you standing next to me with that comment — thank you. Don’t you find that certain scents pull memory closer than even photos or words?

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    1. Jean, thank you! I’m curious — do you have something in your home or daily life that connects you to past generations or childhood memories?

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      1. Oh, literally almost everything in my home has been passed down to me 🙂 One small thing that speaks to me the loudest is an old, metal percolator. My parents used it for years until they got their first Mr. Coffee. Now it sits, retired, in a place of honor on my coffee bar. It brings back so many morning and after dinner coffees I remember my parents sharing together.

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        1. That’s such a beautiful image — I can almost hear the gentle bubbling of the percolator and the quiet conversations it witnessed over the years. Do you ever use it, or is it more of a cherished display piece now?

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          1. It is one of my most prized possessions but I have not used it in years. I used to love to make Mom and Dad’s coffee for them after dinner 🙂 But I’m too addicted to the convenience of my Keurig to go back!

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            1. Maybe on Sundays once in a month 🙂 or… on Christmas day once in a year 🙂 I’m pro at making memories, being sentimental and enjoying the “connection between time” 🙂

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  7. You are lucky to be able to grow and collect so many herbs and of course, use them! You are also lucky to have your grandmother’s table. 🤗😊 I have few physical connections to my ancestors (apart from my DNA) as my parents moved away from their homes when they married just before WW2.

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    1. Ashley, I hear you — having fewer physical heirlooms doesn’t mean the stories and connections aren’t just as strong. Do you have any traditions or recipes you still follow that remind you of where your family came from?

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      1. Over 20 years ago I became interested in the work of blacksmiths, I even had a couple of days learning with a blacksmith, it wasn’t for me as my old back problem reminded me! 😭
        Then, 10 years ago when I retired, I started doing my family tree especially on my father’s side and discovered that all my great grandfathers going back to the mid 1600’s were blacksmiths and horse-shoers, now called farriers! Nobody said! Much of my “history” has only been gleaned from family tree searches.

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        1. That’s such an incredible discovery! It’s amazing how life sometimes nudges us toward things that are already in our roots — even if we don’t know it at the time. I love that your interest in blacksmithing was more than just a passing curiosity; it was part of your heritage all along.

          Family history can be full of surprises, can’t it? It’s like piecing together a story that was always there, just waiting to be uncovered. Thank you for sharing this — I find it so inspiring!

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