On Jewelry

Jewelry is stupid. So is clothing, unless, of course, you use it only to protect your body from the harsh elements.

Jewelry doesn’t protect the body from the weather or the briars but in some cases it might protect the soul from evil spirits or something. Garlic can do just as good a job, I guess...

But its perfume is not nearly as enjoyable as that of the rose.

Oh, a silver crucifix! That’s as good as the garlic, I understand. But what if the vampires are atheists?

I never had an engagement ring when I was married. We went together and bought my white gold wedding band at the PX for $21. Seems that tradition requires some kind of ring at the marriage.

When the old boy left our marriage I briefly considered dropping my pearls in the commode for him to find when I moved out of the house; once I'd been rejected I moved out of the state and I left the house behind for him. But I enjoyed wearing those pearls! And, many years later, I’m glad I didn’t leave them behind in the toilet. It would’ve been a silly symbolic gesture. After the heat of anger passed I was able, once again, to remember with fond emotion, the night he came up behind me in the bedroom and fastened the dear-bought pearls around my neck with his trembling hands. We went on to our holiday party where one of his close friends confided that he knew beforehand that I’d be wearing pearls that night. I felt so (dare I say it?) treasured.

Every economic commodity is costing somebody somewhere something. We can get all political about anything if we try. (Don’t get me wrong - I do it, too.)

The fact remains that lightning bugs glimmer in the dark to attract their mates. They always will. Peacocks fan their gorgeous tail feathers for the same reason. Humans have been adding sparkle to their bodies with minerals for many thousands of years. It won’t be stopping anytime soon.

Me? I can’t deny that I love a Cinderella evening out once in a while, sparkling jewels and all. I’m a real animal, I guess!