When we stayed at Andy and Linda’s cabin on Lake Wallenpaupack, PA we did a little antique shopping in nearby Hawley. That was when I saw them. The Indian mugs of my childhood. Memories of sipping sweet, hot cocoa topped with a dollop of Marshmallow Fluff™  drifted up from my subconscious to tickle my brain. I hadn’t thought of those mugs in forever, yet here they were in all their kitschy glory.

The price was a little steep and with much regret I passed them up. After I got home I could not stop thinking about them. They brought back such wonderful memories of my Mom. She always served us hot chocolate in them, and nothing else. I decided I had to have them.

So, I emailed the antique shop and started inquiries with Thom into purchasing them, hopefully at a reduced price. I explained in my email that I had had them as a child and how my Mother (that I had recently lost) always served us hot chocolate in them. That was when I learned they were from the Hazel Atlas Glass Company, a now defunct glass manufacturer in West Virginia, and highly collectible. This particular full set of six were in pristine condition and had hardly, if ever, been used. I didn’t get my hoped-for price reduction, but I did get my mugs.

This past weekend we finally drove back over to Hawley to pick them up. When Thom handed me the box with my mugs he also gave me a small gift bag, saying that it was a little something extra. When I opened the bag I saw six packets of Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix inside. The tag on the gift bag read: “With my compliments: I hope it’s just like Mom used to make.”

How sweet was that? I have to admit that I could feel the tears welling up and threatening to spill over right there and then, but I managed to check them—only just. Thanks, Thom.  He told me that it meant a lot to him that his things went to people who would care about them. No worries there. Here they are at home:

My sister arrives tomorrow to join me next week in the arduous and nostalgia-filled task of sorting through and packing up our Mom's belongings. I'm sure we will share a cup of cocoa or two as the memories overwhelm us.

For more interesting and detailed information on the Hazel Atlas Glass Company, follow this link.