With my hair ever shorter these days, I felt suddenly adventurous about earrings. Let’s try something new, I considered. The thought led me next to the stacked boxes on my bureau – Container Store purchases that stored Marlene’s and Mildred’s jewelry, now intermingled with my own, and with Juliet’s left behind from her childhood. Armed with a dust cloth and silver polish I dived in – like an archaeological dig. The favored trinkets from four generations were sure to provide fresh styling perspective, and a surprise or two.
Each of us unique in our fashion choices, a sign of our times and our selves – we knew what we liked.
Mildred wore these in the 50’s, and later. During those years she dressed for dinner, even dinners she cooked herself for her family at home.
Marlene was a statement maker – the jewelry wearing equivalent of go big or go home. One of her last jobs was behind the counter in the Museum Store at our local mall. She spent most of her salary on the merchandise there, taking full advantage of her employee discount.
My taste has always been understated – plain, I dare say. I made the silver pendant shown below in the bottom row when I was 18 and hadn’t seen it since then. After a polish it came back to life and I was glad to find it. It still appeals to me. I’m wearing it now.
And here are the sweet jewelry vestiges of my teenage Juliet whose style preferences were just then coming into her view.
I apologize in advance for all of this that’s surely heading her way someday, though she’ll likely enjoy its explorations as I am now, while adding more of her own adult collection to the mix.
There have been other discoveries too, worthy of note, such as this charm bracelet – my first piece of jewelry.
And this.
As I recall, my standout early childhood toys were Lincoln Logs, an Erector Set from Uncle Sonny, a miniature car racing track, and a cowboy costume complete with this sheriff’s badge – shown peeking in from the lower edge of my portrait.
“Why do you let her play with these things,” my uncle once asked Dad, his question undoubtedly prompted by the gender roles of the times.
“Because she likes it,” my Dad responded, as simply as that. He knew his girl well, and let her be.
How lucky am I.
How Lucky Am I, my latest knit design, published 6/20/2020, and
Because She Likes It, published 7/1/2020.