One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in life I
learned from jewelry. My childhood Avon copper penny earrings, to be specific.
Grandma Lorraine loved Avon and one year for a gift to my young 10 or 11
year-old self she gave me copper penny earrings with a penny shaped lip gloss
container to match. I used the lip gloss. It was awesome. All frosty and
creamy! But the earrings? I never wore them. Never. Why, you might ask? Well,
because they were my favorite. They were special, coveted, priceless. I didn’t
want to lose them. So I saved them. Kept them safe. Years later, I was home
from college for the summer cleaning out boxes of childhood stuff when I came
across these oh-so-special earrings of mine. My favorite earrings that I never
wore. Not even once. And I put them in the garage sale pile. Sad, isn’t it? And
I learned something that day. Life is short. Use your special things. Enjoy
them. Otherwise, what’s the point in having things you cherish? So thank you to
my Avon copper penny earrings for teaching me a very valuable life lesson.
 |
| no photo of the earrings, but here's the frosty lip gloss deliciousness! |
When I think of jewelry, the first thing that
pops into my mind is Grandma Lorraine. That lady loved her jewelry. Each time I’d
visit her, we’d end up in her bedroom going through her jewelry box. These are
some of my most favorite memories of my visits with her. Her and I would sit on
her bed and pull out pieces and she’d tell me their stories. Everything
had a history, even if that history was only that 3 months ago she got a great
deal on the piece at QVC. She was proud to show me her goodies, and I loved
every minute of it, no matter how many times I’d heard these stories and saw
this jewelry. It was fun. And it made me feel connected to her in a special way.
I recall one visit where we all went to some
anniversary or holiday party of some kind. She got dressed up and came out with
a ton of jewelry on. Several necklaces and rings. She told me that she was an
old lady who didn't get to go out much anymore and that when she did, she was
going to wear each and every piece of jewelry she had to enjoy it. She called
it “dripping” with jewels. I love that.
i love this woman.
i miss her.
