birthday bling

as of today, i have been on this earth 36 years. i certainly don't feel 36 years old and i don't know where the time has gone. my parents had the most spectacular birthday gift made for me this year. it was not a surprise, but when i opened it, i was flooded with emotion and in awe of the stark contrast that existed between the brilliance and delicate nature of the diamonds and the darkness and strength of the forged iron, much like the heart and soul of the women who came before me.

i have always loved jewelry, show me something that is shiny, expensive and pretty and i am in love. my grandmother had this gold bracelet with diamonds on it that i always loved. each time i would go visit her i would try it one. she always told me that i had to wait until my mother was no longer around before i could have it. my response was that since my mother did not share my love of jewelry she should just give it to me. my grandmother would just laugh. you see this bracelet was her mother's, hazel brown wallace, and it was given to her by her husband. My great grandmother was very specific about the gifting of things after her death. she left specific instructions in her will about this bracelet: "diamond bracelet goes to mary ellen and on to each daughter, no daughter in law might appreciate-HBW", to be exact. so, i knew that one day i would wear it, and not just on special occasions, i would have it reset and wear it all the time.

what i did not know and could not foresee the last time that i tried it on, at my grandmothers 80th birthday party, was how soon i would be wearing that bracelet. my precious husband and i had only been dating for a few months, and there was no way i could predict the journey we had embarked on. soon after coopers death, my mom and i were talking about the bracelet and that got the wheels turning. there is a great gallery, patina, in santa fe that has amazing jewelry and is run by the most amazing couple, who have become friends of my parents, and that dear reader, is who we turned to for help with this very special task. and the results were amazing!

the twelve diamonds across the top remind me of the women in my family, who have come before me, full of grace and strength.

the diamond on the back, a symbol of the one i lost, close to my heart.

the plate on the inside with coopers name and space for his siblings to come.

i know my grandmother is sitting with cooper today, telling him how i love jewelry, smiling at my mom and i, and just laughing.