Recently I bought a new sweater and I have a necklace to go with it. I am happy to be wearing this necklace again. I have a few special pieces of beautiful jewelry (with stories), and some costume jewelry. For a while I didn’t wear much jewelry, but I’m trending towards wearing a few pieces again.
I received this enamel heart necklace years ago. It was a gift from my Auntie Ag. I was probably in my 20’s…I don’t remember. I’ve had it for a very long time. Agnes brought it home for me, as a gift from Norway.
I like the heart shape, the color, the simple rose pattern, the enamel.
And there is something distinct on the back. It is embossed with the Lord’s prayer, in Norwegian. I remember being told that when I was given the necklace, but today I wondered if the prayer could possibly fit on the back. So…I translated the words on Google and sure enough, it is the Lord’s prayer.
I always enjoy a good story behind the different things we have and use.
There is so much jewelry in this world…some unique, classy, and valuable pieces, but a lot of schlocky pieces too. I like jewelry and used to wear more of it, especially when I was working. However, I now mostly wear earrings…even though I do like necklaces. These days I will look at jewelry with a more critical eye, and I rarely buy any of the beautiful pieces I like when I do look… I say to myself, “where would I wear it?”
A 4″ tall, mini-pink, depression glass chalice that holds my special ring and earrings.
I have a few valuable pieces of jewelry: a diamond necklace Gary gave me when we were engaged, a pair of stud diamond earrings, and a pair of teardrop diamond earrings I’ve received as gifts over the years. I have some antique jewelry, and sparkly beaded necklaces I wore for a long time, when in fashion. At times I feel I should just wear my classic, lovely jewelry for the sake of wearing it…no matter what I’m doing, but I usually don’t bother.
My mother’s ring.
Another valuable piece of jewelry I own is my mother’s ring. She was widowed in her 50’s and at some point she had her wedding rings made into a single ring using the diamonds and rubies from her set. Her name was Ruby so I always liked that she had rubies in her ring. When she died I inherited her ring. I wear it when I dress up, or on special occasions. For instance, last Sunday our grandson was baptized so I wore her ring. It makes me feel like she’s there too, somehow.
The ring is a bit awkward…protruding higher than I’m used to. It doesn’t exactly fit either…a little too big for my ring finger, a bit too tight for other fingers. But I wear it anyways.
When Gary and I got married 43 years ago, we each got a wedding band…plain and simple. On our 25th anniversary he bought me an anniversary ring, a gold band with diamonds to replace the original band that had become too small for me.
My diamond anniversary ring.
The saga will continue…to wear jewelry or not to wear it. But, I will always enjoy looking at jewelry, and admiring jewelry others are wearing.
