When I was growing up, both my sister and I both coveted a beautiful necklace belonging to my mother. It was a delicate gold heart with a pearl drop in the middle. We had both asked for it to be left to us many times in her will.
Over the course of time, it became clear that the necklace would be left to my older sister who was her favourite among her 3 children. I was pissed and felt quite rejected knowing I was going to be passed over for something so lovely.
While I look back now and think it was all quite silly, back then, I was a teen full of hormones in an ever-changing body. If you remember your teenage years, I needn’t waste time explaining more. And if you’re NOT yet through your teenage years, just wait, it’s all coming for you.
Then my sister turned 18 and was given a lovely necklace with matching earrings in her birthstone – garnet. When I approached my 18th, I decided to ask for my birthstone – diamond.
My mother might just have jumped on that as godsend and the perfect way to handle the pearl necklace dispute. On my 18th I opened a small jewelry box and found a stunning silver heart shaped necklace with a single drop stone – in diamond. I fell in love immediately. My mother probably patted herself on the back for solving that one so successfully.
In fact, the truth was quite different. Although the necklace is simple, classic, and timelessly elegant, it is also something that fitted me perfectly. Let me explain.
When I was about 9, my grandmother visited and brought with her a pair of sterling silver bangles. One was slightly larger than the other. They had been intended for both my sister and I to have one each.
They wouldn’t give them to us sooner in case we accidentally lost them. That worried my grandma as they were something of a family heirloom. My grandma had worn them, as had my mother and now thew were coming to us. They weren’t anything spectacular mind you, but they had strong sentimental value.
Unfortunately, my sister’s wrist bone had already become too big and the bangle wouldn’t fit over it, so they both went to me. I wore them until I was about 22 and finally had to ask Dad to cut them off because they were beginning to hurt when they banged against my wrist bone. However, I digress.
I’d been given other pieces of jewelry over that decade, some in silver, most in gold. One year, I was given a bright gold circle with a little bull inside because I’m a Taurean. I never wore it. In fact, I stopped wearing anything gold. I still HAVE the little gold bull but now it’s tucked away as a keepsake of birthdays past.
From about 15, I began to notice that whenever I wore gold jewelry or wore anything in a shade of yellow, people would stop me and ask if I were okay because I looked a bit unwell. Yellow is simply not a color I can wear.
I have my Dad’s good, classic English rose skin which works best with silver. However, if I’m going somewhere and want to duck out early, I’ll put on the gold to fool the eye. And it really is just an optical illusion. Something about yellow against my skin produces that effect.
So, by the time my 18th rolled around, I was squarely in the land of silver jewelry only. Even though I still love how beautiful Mum’s pearl heart necklace is, I’ve long since given up wanting it. Where on Earth could I wear it without it detracting from whatever I was wearing for the evening? If I have to choose, I would always opt for my own silver heart necklace because I know it looks good on me.
So, the pearl necklace was left to my sister who, unfortunately, died in 2000. It has now been left to her daughter who hasn’t seen it and will never love it as we did.
As the executrix of my mother’s will (when she finally dies), it’ll be up to me to ensure it is passed on. I won’t regret it for a minute. She has her mother’s skin coloring which is a tad more yellow than mine and not at all English rose. It’ll suit her nicely.
I, on the other hand, shall revel in my own silver heart which looks great on me and would entirely wrong on my niece. You have to love how things turn out.
PepSpill 