When I saw today's me-march assignment, I started looking around and realized how little I buy for myself. My biggest indulgence was going from full time teacher to substitute so that I could write and be home a lot with my boys, but that cut the extra money down a lot so I tend to buy food and used books. I haven't even been able to afford the necessary maintenance on house and car, but this was a self indulgent purchase not only once, but twice in my life.
When my husband and I were college students attending Beijing Teachers college, we went on a train and bus trip through China and in Shanghai I saw a jewelry store where the only thing I wanted was opals, and there was none I could afford, until the jeweler brought out an unmounted stone slightly more oval but about the same size as an american nickel. I bought it, and my husband was furious, it was $80 American in a country where the average income was $20 a month but for some reason I had to have it. He got over his temper and never actually threw me off the elevated walkway we were on. LOL
Years later, I had only kept it in a bottle of water, but I knew a woman who made jewelry using lost wax casting. I drew a picture of my macaw, using the opal as the belly and had her cast it in silver. I wanted gold but not going to happen in this lifetime. By then my husband and I had been married longer and worked out the give and take of sharing a budget and he was eager to see the finished piece and very supportive.
Looking at this I realize that there are many things that sound expensive that I achieved with very little money. The overseas schooling was with grants and student loans and the student loans were forgiven by working five years in a low-income area special ed. class. The expensive parrots I own were mostly free because people find out that they are very difficult to live with and eventually will give them away just to save their furniture, eardrums and relationships with their neighbors.
Ir must be clear I'm not subbing this morning as I suddenly find myself rambling here.
It's a lovely piece- and all the more special because of the story that goes with it! (You should print this out and keep it with the pin for future generations!). I know women who have many lovely and valuable pieces, but they are merely a jewelry collection and really have no significance other than the fact that they are worth something and pretty. I, like you, just have a few select pieces but each one has a special story and meaning. I think I like that much better- but then I always love a good story!
March 21st, 2013
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