My mother was born on February 2, 1894 and died on March 23, 1985. The picture of her was taken on her 84th birthday and I wish it would have photographed better because she was so beautiful.
I was born rather late in her life and was the last of eight children. I have savored and cherished everything I learned of her life before I came along.
The demitasse cup and saucer was one of four that she bought at an antique shop in New Orleans in 1914. She had seen them, immediately fell in love with them and saved up her money until she could get them. On that day, being the frugal person she was, she decided to save money on streetcar fare so walked the 22 blocks to the shop and then 22 blocks back to her house, all the while carrying her five month old son in her arms. Amazingly, the four cups and saucers were never chipped or broken and I inherited one of them. A softer shot of just the cup can be seen at http://www.pbase.com/image/39293526.
At the time of her death she had 25 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren. Hopefully her wonderful spirit lives on in all of us.