An Open Letter to My China
Dear “Orchard Hill,”
I know it has been far too long. In fact, our chance meeting fifteen years ago held so much promise. Visions of drawn-out Shabbat dinners with friends, scrumptious brunches, and festive soirées filled my head as I ran the scanner over your UPC tag at the now-defunct Bullock’s, OBM. But you know what “they” say about good intentions…
Without a complaint, you have remained in the sideboard. Waiting. Biding your time. Never mind that you have been there since we first opened you. Never mind that our set is incomplete. Or that it has been discontinued. Hopefully, you stay faithful to our shared dream.
Not much longer, my dear “Orchard Hill,” not much longer. With the move East, I will finally have the time and energy to make Shabbos at home for my little family. Not to mention a bigger kitchen.
Thanks for your patience,
Frume Sarah
Frume Sarah is Shabbos-observant -- in a Reform way, that is. Please note that from Friday afternoons until one hour after sundown on Saturday evenings, Frume Sarah will be unavailable, in observance of the Jewish Sabbath.
Comments made during this time will be held in a queue, to be moderated afterwards.
Thank you for your understanding...and gut Shabbos!!! 
Frume Sarah's World 
Check out Replacements, LTD for replacement pieces or to fill out your set. This online store saves my butt a lot. Like, you know, when I break 4 salad plates at one time of our pesach china that Joshua’s aunt handed down to us from his grandmother and who knows how old it is 🙂
http://www.replacements.com/index.htm
AWESOME. Thanks for the link. Gonna check it out AFTER the big move 😉
Dear Frummie China,
Your family has no doubt heard the story about the lady that saved her nicest things for “a special occasion” but died unexpectedly at a very early age. Her husband found many beautiful table linens, lingerie and other household items with the price tags still on them because those “special occasions” she was waiting for never came.
Please remind your family that any day is the right day to use you. They won’t regret it.
Sincerely,
The Halprin China
Dear Halprin China,
Is it possible that, like us, that other family had a special needs child who sometimes flies into a rage and throws things?
Just wondering…
The Frummie China
Dear Halprin China:
My family agrees with you. My female owner has been known to eat breakfast off of me and drink her morning Joe with my brother, the teacup, just because I’m pretty and I take her mind off of the laundry waiting for her and sometimes it’s nice to feel like a lady 🙂
The Caruso Milchig China
Dear Caruso Milchig China,
What a great idea! We’ll be sure to suggest this to the Mistress of the House. We think she’ll enjoy her morning much more if she spent them with us.
The Frummie China
Hmmm…perhaps tomorrow morning I’ll eat breakfast on my Lenox “Eternal” china and drink OJ from the Noritake “Paris” stemware that’s stashed in the bottom of the breakfront. None of it has seen the light of day in years….and it’s about time! 🙂
Amen! R. Hillel would heartily endorse this!
Should I be worried that my Fiestaware doesn’t speak to me or anyone else?
Perhaps you are not listening hard enough.
Dear Frummie China,
Be very grateful that you have been kept in the sideboard. The one-who-keeps-us (who shall not, perhaps, be named) has us stored away in a basement box. She claims that she doesn’t even have a sideboard, but we are suspicious. We believe she has forgotten what we look like, and we are probably right.
We are jealous of your impending use 🙂
With love,
The Sommer China
Dear Sommer China,
Though we are in the sideboard, do not think for one moment that our Mistress can gaze on our beauty as we are still safely ensconced in bubble wrap. She too can no longer recall what we look like.
Don’t be jealous.
Fondly,
The Frummie China
@Irene: If your Fiestaware did talk, I’m sure it would use very colorful language! 😉
@Irene Now how the heck does @Jane have you so well pegged?
Dear Frummie China,
Many of your brethren can be found on eBay, in sets and alone.
Sincerely,
Sugar Cane Disposable Plates
Dear Poor Relations,
Thanks for tip.
Should someone happen to take a nibble of you, are you sweet? (We’ve been wondering and didn’t know who else to ask…)
Sincerely,
The Frummie China
Dear Frummie China,
We envy you, being in a sideboard and being seen and admired and only used for special occasions. We’re in the cupboard, and we’re pretty much every day use, being the only set of dishes that our owner currently has – being inherited from her grandmother.
We do, however, want to let you in on a little secret that our owner made use of to replace broken and missing pieces when she first inherited us. Replacements.com is where many of our cousins were hanging out – and many of your cousins may be hanging out there as well. We hope you can make a lovely family reunion.
Fondly,
The Noritake China
Dear Noritake China,
We are not seen, admired, or used. We are wrapped in plastic and are being held captive in the sideboard. Waste no envy on us.
Your secret, however, is a good one and we look forward to being reunited with our cousins. May that time come soon.
Best,
The Frummie China