Lucas asked quietly and consciously to look through my jewelry box. I’ll never forget how surprised he was when I said yes.
We sat on the floor of my closet and carefully went through each drawer and compartment. I let him handle items as I explained where I got them or who gave them to me. He listened intently.
The sapphire and diamond earrings and necklace set my parents gave me were my something blue in my [first] wedding.
A Claddagh ring from an old boyfriend.
The white tassel from my cap bearing a 96 for the year I graduated from college.
The first birthday present his father gave me after we started dating; a necklace with an engraved pendant that reads: I call for your abundance like an armor of ships.
A cameo brooch pin that belonged to my grandmother.
A metal bracelet I bought from a street vendor on the beach in Cabo.
Various bangles and baubles, odd rings I never wear, tarnished earrings, a strand of pearls, turquoise, coral, shell and gunmetal necklaces, a pair of delicate silver hoops that were my mother’s, several items from Stella and Dot (my latest jewelry obsession), the tiny silver spoon, which was a gift from our beloved fertility doctor when I graduated from her office to my regular OB, monogrammed charms, stray fortunes from fortune cookies and other gifts from family and friends.
Lucas was focused as he tried on bracelets and slipped necklaces around his neck.
You never wear this.
Oh, I like this one, it sparkles!
Doesn’t Aunt Leah have this too?
This is so pretty.
It wasn’t until we got to the satin navy blue jewelry travel bag in the bottom drawer that I realized this may have been a mistake.
Inside the bag is a smaller red pouch that I keep the jewelry my parents were wearing when they died; their wedding bands, my mother’s engagement ring, my father’s college class ring, my mother’s gold necklace, bracelet and two other rings and my father’s Mickey Mouse watch, whose long white-gloved hands are frozen at 10:03. The band still very faintly smells of him.
I remained composed as I showed Lucas each piece and answered his questions.
Why do have these, Mommy?
How did you get them?
Will you ever wear these?
Will Daddy?
Your dad had big fingers.
I thought there was nothing of real value in my jewelry box, just a bunch of costume jewelry and certainly nothing that a five-year-old boy would find interesting. I was wrong and now to both of us, it is full of memories, stories and small treasures.
Related Posts:
Very touching! What a special time that was and he will remember so much of you shared. It had to be tough looking at that last bag, but those items bring back special memories of your parents. My girls still love to go through my bags and boxes of jewelry and now it is to tell me what they eventually want to go to them. I am glad we have those conversations and share the memories together.
Me too! These are favorite mothering moments.
Wow, Tonya. I bet this is something that Lucas will remember for years to come. Sometimes, little tiny moments become the memories that we hold onto forever, just like those pieces of jewelry in that little pouch. xo
I truly hope so!
I’m so glad you kept those things. Definitely treasured items…
I am too. And it’s funny because I really thought all I had was a bunch of junk, turns out I was so wrong. And I got to share all those memories and stories with Lucas.
Not to mention a pretty jewelry box from Oprah/me! 🙂
What a sweet moment you shared with Lucas. I love that he is so curious and asks so many questions. I’d like to look through those things of mom’s and dad’s maybe the next time I come up there.
Ah, yes. Thanks, Op!
You are welcome to see Mom & Dad’s things anytime.
Love that you captured this, Tonya. Thank you for sharing. xo
Thank you. It was definitely a special mother/son moment.