Bridle Rosettes - a Sentimental Pair

I am trying to curb my enthusiasm for bridle rosettes, but I do check eBay every now and then, "just to see." (Honestly, I'm not even fooling myself.) I've looked at (and resisted) many pairs including the neatest Wizard of Oz rosettes, but I simply could not resist these.

 Monon, the Hoosier Line!

Why was this pair so irresistible? Check out this photo.

That's my mama, Fern Honeywell, in the white dress. (I did not add the arrows; aren't they an odd trim for a dress? But I love how they point out her banner!) Mom was West Lafayette's Queen of the Monon Railroad in 1947. The girl on her left was Lafayette's queen, and the mayors of both cities are at their sides. I don't know the man on the far right; my guess is that he is an official from Monon.

The occasion was the 50th anniversary of the railroad, and to celebrate, they did a whistle stop tour all along the route from Chicago to Louisville, stopping in all the towns along the way for pictures, autographs, food, and fun. A four man band from Chicago was on board the train, playing at the stops, too.

Posing with other queens. My mother is on the front left.

As you might imagine, I really wanted those Monon bridle rosettes, and so my son, Cole, bought them for me for a Christmas gift. They're a nice addition to my original pair and my Barnum & Bailey/Ringling Brothers  circus rosettes.

But really, I am not collecting them. Not yet, at least.