I can’t believe I didn’t write about this before now. December has been such a busy and chaotic time that I didn’t get around to it until now!
Christmas just isn’t Christmas at our house until we hang the beautiful cross-stitched stocking with the name Ramie monogrammed across the top. The stocking was a gift from my Aunt Lou for my daughter Reili on her 1st birthday. The stocking is very special to all of us because of the story behind it.
Aunt Lou and I often called each other to check in since we didn’t get to see each other much after I moved from my hometown of Montgomery, West Virginia in 1985 where she still lived. Aunt Lou fell in love with Reili when she was born and took great pleasure in spoiling her every chance she got. She also loved shopping on QVC. Well, in December 1997 just before Reili’s first birthday Aunt Lou called me to eagerly tell me what she just got Reili from QVC for her birthday present.
Aunt Lou proudly described this adorable stocking, “It’s dark green and white with a Christmas tree on it and presents under the tree AND I could put her name on it!” As soon as she mentioned the part about Reili’s name on the stocking I thought oh no. You see, no matter how many times I reminded Aunt Lou that her name was Reili, she always called her Ramie. Aunt Lou continued with her excitement over the perfect gift worrying about spelling her name correctly. She asked me how you spell her name. I reluctantly replied slowly, “R-e-i-l-i”, to which she astoundedly said “that doesn’t spell Ramie!” I said, “no it doesn’t Aunt Lou, her name is Reili.” “What do you mean, Reili?! You mean to tell me I’ve been calling that baby the wrong name all this time?! Why didn’t you tell me?” she exclaimed. I told her I did tell her many times but after awhile I decided it wasn’t really that important. I knew Aunt Lou adored Reili and called every time she called her Ramie, it was with love. That didn’t matter though. She was really upset and fussed about the name on the stocking. “What the hell am I supposed to do now?! They already put Ramie on it and it’s been shipped. I guess I’ll have to return it.” I responded quickly and told her absolutely not! You’re going to send that precious stocking and we’re going to hang it every year at Christmas. It will be an awesome story for everyone to enjoy and something Reili will have for the rest of her life from her loving aunt Lou.”
Every year at Christmas the Ramie stocking hangs prominently on the fireplace. Those who know the story already get a big grin on their face and those who don’t know, well…they ask who Ramie is and the story begins again!
