30 Day Challenge of Things I LOVE...Day 2

My dad never talked about the war. He was in the Army and delivered mail to the soldiers in the trenches. He didn't actually do battle, himself, but the consensus is he saw some pretty horrific stuff. Before shipping out, he had been the Postmaster in Thatcher, AZ.

While convalescencing in a hospital in Okinawa, Japan, he made this aluminum tray. I believe it was an acid etching procedure, which I know nothing about except toxic chemicals are used. Seems weird to be doing something like that while staying in the hospital, but what do I know? Anyway, I have ALWAYS loved this tray. It was on display in our house while I was growing up. My mom knew how much I loved it, so after my dad died, she told me it was mine.

I have a love of old aluminum pieces now and am always on the lookout for interesting patterns and shapes. We had those aluminum tumblers with the little "sweaters" that slipped over them to keep your hands from freezing when you drank out of them. I wonder what ever happened to those? I see them pop up every once in awhile in antique shops I frequent. Not sure they're a good idea to drink out of, though. Seems like I remember reading about a link between aluminum and Alzheimer's disease. YIKES!

I just love this tray. It makes me smile. I like to touch the coolness of it and imagine my dad's fingers working this design, however he did it. I hope it brought him solace and peace. Thanks, dad....