Coral Bells and Cockle Shells (Rainbow Connection's New Color of the Week)

When I think of the pretty, pinkish-orange color Coral, my Grandma Victoria comes to mind.

When I was a little girl, Grandma always grew Coral Bells in her garden.

They would bloom each summer in a delicate cloud of coral-colored droplets dangling from strong stems, soaring high above the other plants, waving gently in the wind...

Grandma lived across from the county fairground, so when we had 4-H projects to enter, we would park in Grandma's driveway, right beside the coral bells.

We used Grandma's best china, and Mom's best silver to make our table setting look as pretty as could be.

The crowning touch of my exhibit, and one that never failed to dazzle the judges, was a single rose from Grandma's garden, surrounded by a spray of coral bells, carefully placed in Mom's white, hobnail bud vase.

In retrospect, coral must have been one of Grandma's favorite colors. When I was much smaller, Grandma Victoria had a silk charmeuse comforter dotted with coral-colored cabbage roses on her bed. Grandpa Harold died the year I was born, so when we stayed at Grandma's house, we would crawl under the covers and snuggle in her big oak bed.

Perhaps that is why coral is a warm, comforting color to me, a color that brings sweet remembrances to mind.

My Grandma Victoria went to be with her Savior in heaven at age 93, a few years ago, just before Easter. It was too early for coral bells, but her dress was coral-colored, and as she lay resting, she wore a coral-colored, porcelain rose necklace and earrings I gave her for Christmas one year.

I like to think she's eating her favorite foods right now, sitting at a table adorned with a bouquet of coral bells.

This week at Rainbow Connections, we'll be taking a look at what coral means to you. Pictures, posts, poems and videos that pertain to the coral theme are most welcome as of this time. The winners will be announced next Sunday, 11/30/08.

Happy Thanksgiving!