Celebrating the new year in style is on everyone’s mind, and I have some unsolicited advice and a good new year’s resolution for all of you. It stems from having had this conversation with quite a few friends and it goes something like this:
Me; “Oooh, I love your china. It’s beautiful.”
Them: “Yeah, me too, although I’ve never actually used it.”
Me: “Really!?!”
Them: “Yes. I’ve been married (Insert number ranging from 10-20) years and we’ve never used it. It’s hand-wash only, so it’s just too much of a pain.”
Me: “Have you ever considered not hand washing it?”
Them: “No, why? Should I?”
Me: “Isn’t it better than having it sit here unused for the next (insert number ranging from 10-20) years?”
Them: “You’re probably right."
It’s not that I don’t believe the experts when they say hand-wash only—I do. I know it’s better for your china and your crystal and I applaud those of you who do it. It’s just that if the alternative has been for it to sit in the closet unused and collecting dust, in my book it’s worth the loss of a little paint and a chip or two.
This New Year’s Eve, my hope is that all of you who haven’t used your good stuff will go ahead and break it out for an inaugural run and then use it for your special occasions and holidays. Indulge yourself—you deserve it! At the end of the night, put your china on the gentle cycle of your dishwasher, use some mild detergent and hope for the best.
Suffer the consequences if you chip a little paint, but know that you’ve lived a little this holiday using something special that you love. After all, Isn’t that what celebrating is really about?
Next year you can resolve to replace the pieces you broke while enjoying your stuff in 2012. In the meantime, Happy New Year!
