I find so much joy when one of my posts sparks a memory for one of my readers. I wrote a post about the French Empire chandelier that I drove three hours away to purchase for my farmhouse. Afterward, a friend of mine reached out to tell me the story behind her grandmother’s chandelier. This is her story.

Sabine was born and raised in Switzerland until she was 10 years old. Both her mother and father are Swiss, so many of her childhood memories originated from her time living in Switzerland. She treasures the memories and the time she had. Her father then moved them to Bloomington, Indiana. He landed a job as a Physics professor at the nearby university.

Her grandparents lived in a stunning Victorian house just outside of Basel, on a sprawling picturesque estate. One summer her grandfather and his daughter (Sabine’s mother) planted a cherry tree on the property. To this day it is still standing tall and proud.

Her grandmother liked the finer things in life and was especially drawn to things that sparkled. A trait she passed on to Sabine. She had an exquisite chandelier that hung over their dining room table where they ate every meal. Sabine would spend hours gazing at it as a young girl, and couldn’t imagine anything more beautiful. At the age of five, her grandmother told her “someday that chandelier will be yours.”

The crystal chandelier was unique, from the 1940’s and was very heavy. It was made of brass, led crystals and had fabric wiring. It is a family heirloom that her grandmother planned to pass on through generations.

Her grandparents eventually retired to the Swiss Alps and sold the estate to developers. Her grandmother made it known the chandelier was not included in the sale. They downsized and sold most of their furnishings, however her grandmother was adamant that the chandelier was coming with them. They spent their remaining years in a tiny ski town enjoying their condo and their slower pace of life.

When Sabine’s grandparents passed on, Sabine’s mother made arrangements for the chandelier to be shipped to their home in Indiana where it hung in their entryway, sparkling brightly when the sun radiated through the french doors. Even at night the chandelier glowed through the front window when neighbors passed by, getting a clear image of it from the street. For Sabine it was so special seeing the chandelier hanging in her family home because it was a constant reminder of her grandmother, whom she loved very dearly.

Despite that, tragedy shook her family when Sabine was away at college. Her mother left Indiana with only her personal belongings, and flew back to her homeland. She left everything behind. She didn’t want anything in the divorce, she just wanted out.

Sabine’s father sold the house after Sabine graduated college and unfortunately, the chandelier was left in the entryway, unbeknownst to the owners, its great significance.

Sabine’s mother settled back in Switzerland and remarried a wonderful man, where ironically they purchased a condo on the very same property she once grew up on. To this day, she can see the Cherry tree from her window that she and her father planted years ago.

However, the missing chandelier still bothered her. It was their family keepsake that was hanging in someone else’s house. She booked a trip back to Indiana in hopes she could retrieve it for Sabine, as it was her mother’s wish. As she walked down the street by her old house, she could see the chandelier hanging in the entryway. She was dumbfounded but also excited that it was still right where she left it. She couldn’t believe her eyes! There was still hope.

Sabine’s mother marched up the front steps and knocked on the door. As soon as the owner opened the door, she looked up at the magnificent crystals shimmering in the light, tears welling up in her eyes. All she could think of was her late mother and how much she loved that chandelier. It was an especially emotional moment and with great relief, the owners agreed to give it back to her, since it was such a coveted family treasure. It wasn’t just a crystal light but it was her mother’s legacy that she so desperately wanted to return to her only daughter.

Sabine’s mother took great care in packing the antique chandelier, ensuring each individual crystal was secure and would not get damaged in the mail. She shipped the package to Colorado where Sabine was living in her Littleton house. Sabine was ecstatic and hung the heirloom in her front foyer just as her mom once did. It reminded her so much of her grandmother every time she walked through the front door.

Time took a toll on her marriage and Sabine eventually sold the Littleton house to move to downtown Denver and start a new chapter. The listing stated ” Chandelier Not Included”. When Sabine moved to the condo she brought the chandelier with her without question. Even though the condo was modern and seemed as if it might not fit the right aesthetic, the chandelier fit perfectly to her. It felt as if her grandmother was right there with her, even through some dark days. She would gaze up at the chandelier like it was yesterday, feeling her grandmother was there in spirit, as her guardian angel watching over her from heaven.

When Sabine met and fell in love with the man of her dreams, they decided to move to the East Coast where he grew up. They love spending their days outdoors as much as possible, and Florida was the perfect place to hang their hats. They wanted to live in a warmer climate and were excited to start living a tropical, coastal lifestyle. The Winters in Colorado could be brutal and Sabine was more than happy to trade in her snow boots for flip-flops.

Moving day was finally here! It took several long, tedious days to drive across country. Dwayne knew how special the chandelier was to Sabine so he made every effort to ensure it arrived safely. Dwayne drove the U-haul to Florida while Sabine flew to a conference for work, that she unfortunately could not miss. A week later they were together again in their new home.

They purchased their home sight un seen in Palm Harbor, Florida and were married a few years later. The chandelier shimmered for the very first time off the Florida coast, and Sabine knew her grandmother would have been very pleased and happy for her. Sabine and Dwayne discovered how much they loved living in Florida, but after much thought, they decided it was time to move again. “Chandelier Not Included”.

Sabine and Dwayne moved to Tampa Bay and purchased a grande house on the bay. They found the ideal place for the chandelier to continue to shine its light. It was a constant reminder of where she came from even though she was miles from family. They lived in Tampa Bay for several years until they were forced to make some big life choices after COVID.

Eventually Sabine and Dwayne retired and decided to simplify their life, just as her grandparents once did. They purchased a little house in the country on a lake and put their big house on the market, with the listing stating once again, “Chandelier Not Included”.

Life couldn’t be more perfect for them. They spend their days walking the trails by their house, boating, bike riding and visiting the local watering holes. Life is much simpler than it was living in the city and that’s how they like it.

The chandelier was packed away after the sale of their house on the bay because they have not found a spot to hang it at the lake house. It’s so sentimental and means so much to Sabine that she will never part with it. Someday it will shine again but until then, she treasures it, keeping it tucked away, safe and sound with memories of her childhood and her grandmother still very vivid.