Souvenirs that brighten holidays

In regard to the Dec. 22 Her World (“Find Out What to Buy Where -- and Then Go for It”): I too have had to pass over interesting objects because they wouldn’t fit in with my decor or were too expensive. But my parents started a tradition on a trip to Europe when I was 16 that I continue in my own home.

Often when I travel, I buy a Christmas tree ornament that embodies the region. Now I have a small bagpiper from Scotland, a rocking horse from Austria, a ceramic globe from New Mexico.

This way I can buy a low-priced item that packs nicely and is easily stored. Once a year, as I decorate the tree, I pull out memories of my journeys, and I don’t feel guilty hiding them the rest of the year.

Carol Graf

Monrovia