Desperate Housewife: My Addiction to Jewelry

I have been watching the fabulous TV program Desperate Housewives since the first show, never missing an episode. They’ve been through a lot, those women, from divorce, to marriage with a true soul mate, loss of a friend, death of a husband, health problems, family trauma, demise of a business and on and on. And yet, when I watched the show on Sunday night, I teared up over a rather unusual occurrence. Near the end, Bree chastises her husband, Orson, for his actions and treats him rather rudely. He is angered, as he has been with several others in this show, and reacts by pocketing her earrings! I am in shock! How could anyone do that to another human being? I call a friend after the show and share with her my sadness. She laughed. Then it occurs to me, am I overly sensitive because of MY love of earrings? It is food for thought.

I promptly go to my jewelry case and check for any missing spots. I try my best to keep them paired up, but admittedly, I do toss some into a drawer after a late night. At some point, I have to call my oldest granddaughter to come and sort them. She earns $2 for that chore.

Anyone who has read my blogs is aware of my love of jewelry. Most of it is strictly costume jewelry, not worth a lot, but somehow has become important to me. One of my favorite stories is about a gift from my younger daughter. She was in Australia, one of her goals in life, and purchased a pair of silver earrings for me with a duckbilled platypus on them. When I opened the package, I exclaimed they were lovely but said I already had a pair of these. Her husband just about fell over, not knowing I was simply teasing!

Another time I was shopping with my granddaughter, a vacation in Florida. I found a silk blouse with lots of sequins and beads. It was decorated with all sorts of dogs. As the lady wrapped it up, she commented “Now you’ll have to scour the earth for a pair of earrings with dogs.” My granddaughter laughed and said “Oh, she has 2 or 3 pair already!”

I have been accused of having a rye sense of humor too. At a bead shop, I found some teeny-tiny glass veggies. I bought a few pieces, added earring hooks and wear them. When people comment on them, I say “this is my fault, I told my husband that for my next birthday I wanted a pair with a full karat.” Get it, they are carrots! Usually a groan follows.

My sister loved unique jewelry too. I found a pair while shopping with her years ago. We were at a small boutique in Indianapolis when I came across these charmers. They are glass and have blue liquid inside (God only knows what it is and I hope I never find out.) In any case, if people ask what is in there, I smile and say “Smurf blood.” I am always prepared for another groan.

Another pair that I have are actually gorgeous – large and exquisitely made of rhinestones; they really sparkle. I bought these in Louisville, Kentucky, probably 15 years ago. We were at an antique store, in a very old lady’s house. She had to be at least 85 years old (although the older I get, the younger that sounds. I don’t think “elderly” should be used until you are past 95.) I happened to be wearing long, dangling earrings and she commented that I must really like to dazzle folks. I smiled and nodded. The “shop” only offered a few pieces of jewelry, but after a few minutes, she took her walker and ambled into a back room.

When she returned, she offered these for my consideration. I was stunned and said they were truly beautiful. She said she had worn them on her honeymoon in Las Vegas, back in the 1960s. It was her 2^nd marriage after losing her “dear Edmund” and she was determined to have a non-traditional wedding. She had only worn them one time since, when her 2^nd husband had passed away. She thought it was fitting.

I was reluctant to buy them, but she almost insisted and the price was so reasonable. She made me promise to wear them and I do, mostly at holiday or special occasions such as a wedding. They always draw rave reviews; they are compliment magnets.   

As I read back over this blog, I realize I am not just a collector of jewelry, but a collector of memories as well. Many of these baubles bring back a memory of a person, sporting event, gift from a loved one, a marvelous vacation or road trip, or special time with family or friends. So, dear readers, enjoy whatever it is that you collect, make no excuses and display your finds proudly and if your’s is wearable, join me in showing off your collection at  every opportunity and happy hunting.