Family jewels

July 15, 2013

A shiny blue malt ball sized ring, raised in plated gold, caught her eye. She simply “had to have” the jewel, then exclaimed out loud, it is unlikely she has anything to “go” with it in her closet. The group of women standing around the square of glass counter-tops didn’t need any encouragement to clamor their disagreement. “Wear it everyday,” I shouted, “why not?” Have experienced so many people, in their last decade of life, who are sorting through their charms, collectables, fine china, Sunday best attire, cloth-laden “good” silver, heirlooms that are admired from afar. Why not use it every single day and enjoy the hell out of it all while you can still identify the mark. “I might break a dish,” declared one faint-of-heart soul. Well, then, who will care, but you, since there is no one to inherit the treasures or are remotely interested in the pattern. They all have their share of goods, packed away for rainy days.

As of late, I find myself choosing foot items I would have avoided in the past, especially the more spendy ones in magnetic, shapely glass. Garlic-filled olives floating in oil, local jellies that seem to drip fruit from the lid, crackers spattered with delicate seeds, fumy cheeses gracefully merchandised in the specialty case, edible granola with nuts and dried fruits, ice cream in containers smaller than my head. It is far more fun to shop though I keep the items down to one grocery bag per trip. Money does not grow on trees you know.