A woman wears her tears like jewelry. ~Author Unknown
Mom placed the locket around my neck. I hadn’t worn it since I was 17 years old. She and I opened it. We looked at the sepia toned photos inside. Grandpa Howard, a man I never met and Grandma Mable, a woman that I will never forget. Grandpa drowned before I was born and Grandma, she died in her late 80’s after walking the Mackinaw Bridge on Labor Day.
Whenever I visit Mom at her home Up North, I ask her for a piece of jewelery. Most of the time I’m joking. I know she doesn’t want to part with any of the pieces in her collection. She has some beautiful antique jewelry that belonged to many women in my family. I know the pieces mean a lot to her. The home that she lived in a few years ago had been broken into at least twice during the 20 years that she lived there. Of course the thieves always took the jewelry first.
Her collection had been hit hard by those robberies. A few years ago my Grandma Bobbie died. Mom has slowly but surely acquired my grandmother’s prized jewelry. Family issues have made it hard for her to obtain all of the items that she should have. It isn’t fair that she doesn’t have all them. But then death makes some people act peculiarly about the possessions of the deceased.
Today my mother and I were getting ready for the day and of course I jokingly asked for a piece of her jewelry. I don’t know why I always ask such a silly question. I don’t really want any of it because it belongs to her. However, we rummaged through a box and she brought out my Grandma Bobbie’s locket. She placed it around my neck and said that it now belonged to me. I hugged her, gave her a kiss and told her thank you. Then I told her I loved her.
It is now my prized possession. I will treasure it always. Until it is my time to pass it on to one of my children.
How lovely!
Thank you.
I love how this memory will be passed from one generation forward..
Thanks my dear. Very much. I like it too.
What I usually ask from my grandma are her lotions! Damn, it’s so expensive and she just lets everything expire!
Lovely post Renee!
Thanks Dear. I hope she gives you her lotions and you use them with love and care.
There are things that are just objects and then there are special things that are doorways to the past. And to memories. I’m so glad you have a piece that you can pass down to your own daughter. 🙂
Me too. I’m so glad my mom let me have it. I love it.
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Thanks for the ping back my love.
Beautiful story. I love your Grandma Bobby’s resilence and perserverance. Kinda reminds me of my Grandma Z.
It’s wonderful that we had strong women in our lives. I know mine definitely led by example. She made me the strong woman I am today.
Reblogged this on Once A Little Girl and commented:
Come meet another (once a) little girl Michigander who has a grandma as colorful and resilient as mine. So nice rendezvousing you, Renee.
I love stories about familes especially Grandmas.This was so preciuos to me.I have a few things of my grandma’s,a bowl that I love and have promised to my granddaughter Alexis.Every time we use it she says,”Is this still mine Nana?”
I too have a bowl from my Grandma. She’s gone now but every time I use it, I think of her.
my mother wore a locket with her wedding photo to my step father. i remember playing with it as a child. I found one just like hers and put my own wedding photo in it. Some day i will give it to my daughter. Even though that marriage did not last my love for my mom, my daughter and the good memories of her dad are bound up in that locket.
What a beautifully touching memory loneyheart. Thank you for sharing it with me.