Grand-Aunt's Eclectic Style

         My Grand-Aunt had a very unique style.  Not many people liked it, but
not many people told her they didn't like it, either.  If they did, she would say,
'It's what I like'.  Her living room was filled with warm colours.  It had a mixed
palette of orange and blue, with rich mahogany furniture.  The dining room
table and chairs were mahogany wood, and the fabric on the chairs was auburn,
a warm, orange shade.
         Grand-Aunt's kitchen was painted in a bright, sunny yellow paint. There
were windows all around. The windows were glass panels, that you could
open and close, on one side of the kitchen.  On the other side, was just glass
with white casing.  Her curtains in the kitchen were soft yellow, with tiny pink
flowers on them, which she made herself. She loved floral patterns.  The
kitchen cabinets had a rich brown, mahogany wood all around, with red edging.
It was such a bright and airy kitchen, I even enjoyed washing the dishes.
         My Grand-Aunt was the wife of the Mayor of Kingston and St. Andrew,
in the eighties.  She was invited to many events that a mayor and his wife,
would have to attend.  Grand-Aunt usually had her clothes by a dressmaker.
Her dresses were very stylish, and always to knee-length.  She would wear
pearl necklaces or that antique looking silver. She always had to wear a watch.
They usually were not working, but she always asked me to get them from
her bedroom for her.
         I loved going in her bedroom. It was usually off limits, so whenever the
opportunity presented itself, I gladly offered.  The watches were dainty, bevelled shape gold slim-band watches, with rhinestones around the face.  I remember
asking her why she wore them if they didn't have the right time, and she simply
replied, 'I wear it for fashion.' 
         One thing I especially have to talk about, was her collections of ceramic
figurines.  She had an étagère, and filled it with those figurines.  Some were small and some were big. She had ceramic birds, ceramic eggs, and even
Royal Doulton ladies. I absolutely loved them.  I told myself that when I grew up,
I was going to start my own collection.  I started a collection of decorating
magazines and unique decorative, ceramic switch plates; something else I saw
around her house.
         Sad to say, Grand-Aunt has passed away now, from breast cancer.
Her husband, the once mayor of Kingston and St. Andrew, has also passed away from prostate cancer.  This is my memory of living with her, throughout
my teenage years. The house is now sold, and all the things I remember, and
used to hold dear in my heart, which are like treasures to me, are now gone.

In Loving Memory of my Sweet Grand-Aunt.