Slice of Life 2018 Day 17: Baptismal Gown

Many children’s books are filled with stunning words and phrases, worthy of using as a mentor text with students of all ages (including high school students). Cynthia Rylant’s work is no exception. Cynthia Rylant’s Something Permanent is a gorgeous book that tells stories of ordinary Americans living in the Great Depression through Walker Evans’ photos and Cynthia Rylant’s poetry. Each black and white photo is accompanied with a corresponding poem.

Something Permanent reminds me that photos are a fantastic source to conjure memories. Photographs help preserve moments, of both ordinary and important events. Words, often through poetry, can enhance an image. 

My grandma Geanne, now in her mid-nineties, moved into an assisted living situation last summer. As my mom and aunts were helping her downsize from her house to her much smaller room, they gathered important letters, photos, and other mementos that she would not have room for. Around Christmas my mother handed me a bag full of old photos and letters from Grandma Geanne. It was bittersweet to read letters I had written to my grandma from when I was in elementary and middle school and to see photos of me and my own children in her collection, some of them unfamiliar. One of the photos was of my daughter on the day of her baptism.

My daughter in the family baptismal gown

Instantly, I thought of the gown my daughter was wearing. She's donned in the same gown my mother wore, I wore, her older brother wore, my siblings wore, my cousins and nieces and their children wore. A favorite part of my daughter's baptism was dressing her in a gown that is nearly one hundred years old that was made for my grandmother. I cherish the love that my grandma put into caring for this family heirloom.

In honor of Grandma Geanne, I wrote a poem about this baptismal gown. Something Permanent provided the perfect format to emulate.

Baptismal Gown

She wanted to be certain her hand-sewn baptismal gown could be

preserved for each child, grandchild, and great-grandchild,

so she kept this fragile gown folded in white tissue paper

in a flimsy department store cardboard box, secured with string,

high on the top shelf of her closet,

and when the time came

she hand-washed,

pressed, and

delivered

this  

gown

for each

baby.