The Wilton Trivet

by Carrie Frederick
(Ben Lomond, CA)

The Wilton cast iron trivet, in the shape of a heart, was from my husband. It was a gift for our 6th anniversary. We decided after we were married to give traditional anniversary presents. The 6th year is sugar or iron.

Our anniversary is near Christmas. This Christmas, we had planned to go more frugally, keep our gift giving to a minimum, saving some money, enjoying the season.

My husband hates shopping and came home that December 21 with a bag from a high end antiques store, Maria's. He'd gone last minute, after work in Palo Alto, a high end city near San Jose, California.

When I discovered he paid $127 for the trivet, I just about flew my lid. I cried. I couldn't believe that he had spent that much money on an iron trivet so close to Christmas on a year when we had decided to go small. There were no returns or exchanges.

Three years later, we laugh about it as we admire the trivet that hangs on the wall above the dining room table. My husband wanted to get me a gift of iron because he knew it was important to me. He shelled out $127 in order that I might have my traditional anniversary gift.

It is now one of my most prized possessions and I love him for remembering. The trivet will certainly survive the years and has a story, to be passed on to our children. The Wilton Trivet may one day hang on the wall above their dining room table.