Holiday Necklace
This is for all little girls who dream, grandmothers who are wiser than we will comprehend, and all that truly want to believe in hidden and magical romance.
In 1997 my grandmother was not doing well. I flew in to be with her and help my grandfather with hospital visits, shopping, and those types of things. One day, while visiting with her in the hospital room we were going through a Liz Claiborne catalog. In the jewelry section was a silver chain with a very simple, but classic 1" silver square as the pendant. I mentioned I thought it was quite beautiful to my grandmother and she immediately insisted that my Poppi "take" me (though she knew I would drive) to the nearest store find it and buy it, then I was to bring it back to her.
Later that day, with all of my orders followed, I sat down on my grandma's bed and showed her "our great find". She took it out of the box and put it on me and said
"My dear, I love you, but I will not be here much longer. I am sorry I will not be here to meet the man you are to marry or the children you will have, but I can tell you this - keep this necklace on - the man you are to marry will give you a simple but classic diamond necklace."
I looked at her as if she had gone mad. She simply placed her hand on my cheek and said
"I know this, and you will someday too."
Grammy passed away one week later.
I held onto her words as if they were pure gold. I had never been one to know what wealth and material items galore were, so the idea of having a diamond necklace was not a normal thought for a girl like me to wonder about. Don't think I went off the end of things and was unrealistic, no in fact I took the opposite angle - the "yeah right, like that would happen"
I didn't tell anyone what Grammy had said at the time, however I did about a year later. I confided in a very dear friend. She was the only one who knew, and I felt safe in that only she and I knew that I was hanging all of my hopes, naively, on a square pendant.
See, I had been in a "challenging" relationship that was destined to go nowhere. This after a string of easily questionable attempts in relationships. After Grammy passed away circumstances intensified and I made choices to be back out on the "market".
This same friend to whom I had confided in with what Grammy had said was also the one and the same that many a "men conversations" were had with. You know the type - the crash and burn, how to lose 'em, what if they call, how cute was he, and did they open the door, along with a million other girlie, at times caddy, conversations.
After being in the world of singlehood, the dating pool, and overall attempt to find decent men... she and I mutually agreed, during an array and irony of margaritas that our best lottery choice would be to find a couple of brothers who lived on a farm - good home grown boys who loved their mother and respected their father. Yadayadayad...
Little did either of us know.
A short time later, about a year maybe. I had met someone who had blown me away. We had lots of laughs, so many things in common and yet so many that weren't. We were able to have serious talks, and someone who actually would answer questions from a great little book called "The 201 Greatest Questions Ever Asked" (the latter is yet another mark of a great man)
The first year we spent the holidays together with each other’s families and to say the least both sides of the family, well I think they knew... even if I didn't. They could see something. I knew it was there too, but time hadn't healed old wounds yet and I had done an incredible job of convincing myself, based on past relationships, that I wasn't "that girl" who would end up with the great guy forever. Sad. Far too many walls built in a very short time that made it a mountainous venture for anyone to break thru.
Our second holiday season together - Christmas 2000 - I was spending Christmas Eve night with this same great man and his family. It was so much fun, everyone smiling and laughing, holiday music in the background, tree lit, stories being told and as we sat in the living room to open gifts I had looked around at each person there and was suddenly under the realization that it was actually real... these amazing people were here and I was laughing and talking with them, and somehow I finally realized I was ok and it was ok to see things clearly. So many times before it was pins and needles, the uncomfortable feeling - like the one you get when you first put on a scratchy wool sweater...
The great man's mother handed me a gift from under the tree. It was a gift from him. I opened it, and even now as I write this I become slightly emotional. I remember everything became "cloudy", as if a flashback was happening, the blue rectangular box, the fact that the room went quiet, and any noises being made began to muffle, all of it. I opened the lid and inside was a simple, yet classic, beautiful diamond necklace. This man came over and helped put it on me, and as I sat there with tears welled up, saying thank you and trying to maintain my composure. Though many will think I am crazy – I could have swore Grammy was right there with her hand on my cheek.
I looked up from my spot on the floor and sitting on the couch was one of the great man's brothers. He was holding the hand of a very pretty girl and she had a big smile on her face and I thought for a second that she had tears in her eyes. The girl had been my friend with whom I had confided in, whom I had journeyed with. It was as if I could feel Grammy looking in on me and smiling.
Full circle, Grammy was right, but I think I was right too. I always believed that Grammy would meet the man I was to marry and the children I would have... and there are many times, especially around the holidays, where I can feel her hand on my cheek, and know that she has met and approved. Grammy was a romantic I think... maybe not with her own self, but she sure was with me. The friend who I had confided in is now my sister. The great man is now a wonderful father and even more wonderful husband. Mine.
Miss you Grams... I still have our necklace safe in a box. I placed it in the box that the great mans diamond necklace came in. I believe it will be safe there. Much Love. Me
DevinAnne ©
In 1997 my grandmother was not doing well. I flew in to be with her and help my grandfather with hospital visits, shopping, and those types of things. One day, while visiting with her in the hospital room we were going through a Liz Claiborne catalog. In the jewelry section was a silver chain with a very simple, but classic 1" silver square as the pendant. I mentioned I thought it was quite beautiful to my grandmother and she immediately insisted that my Poppi "take" me (though she knew I would drive) to the nearest store find it and buy it, then I was to bring it back to her.
Later that day, with all of my orders followed, I sat down on my grandma's bed and showed her "our great find". She took it out of the box and put it on me and said
"My dear, I love you, but I will not be here much longer. I am sorry I will not be here to meet the man you are to marry or the children you will have, but I can tell you this - keep this necklace on - the man you are to marry will give you a simple but classic diamond necklace."
I looked at her as if she had gone mad. She simply placed her hand on my cheek and said
"I know this, and you will someday too."
Grammy passed away one week later.
I held onto her words as if they were pure gold. I had never been one to know what wealth and material items galore were, so the idea of having a diamond necklace was not a normal thought for a girl like me to wonder about. Don't think I went off the end of things and was unrealistic, no in fact I took the opposite angle - the "yeah right, like that would happen"
I didn't tell anyone what Grammy had said at the time, however I did about a year later. I confided in a very dear friend. She was the only one who knew, and I felt safe in that only she and I knew that I was hanging all of my hopes, naively, on a square pendant.
See, I had been in a "challenging" relationship that was destined to go nowhere. This after a string of easily questionable attempts in relationships. After Grammy passed away circumstances intensified and I made choices to be back out on the "market".
This same friend to whom I had confided in with what Grammy had said was also the one and the same that many a "men conversations" were had with. You know the type - the crash and burn, how to lose 'em, what if they call, how cute was he, and did they open the door, along with a million other girlie, at times caddy, conversations.
After being in the world of singlehood, the dating pool, and overall attempt to find decent men... she and I mutually agreed, during an array and irony of margaritas that our best lottery choice would be to find a couple of brothers who lived on a farm - good home grown boys who loved their mother and respected their father. Yadayadayad...
Little did either of us know.
A short time later, about a year maybe. I had met someone who had blown me away. We had lots of laughs, so many things in common and yet so many that weren't. We were able to have serious talks, and someone who actually would answer questions from a great little book called "The 201 Greatest Questions Ever Asked" (the latter is yet another mark of a great man)
The first year we spent the holidays together with each other’s families and to say the least both sides of the family, well I think they knew... even if I didn't. They could see something. I knew it was there too, but time hadn't healed old wounds yet and I had done an incredible job of convincing myself, based on past relationships, that I wasn't "that girl" who would end up with the great guy forever. Sad. Far too many walls built in a very short time that made it a mountainous venture for anyone to break thru.
Our second holiday season together - Christmas 2000 - I was spending Christmas Eve night with this same great man and his family. It was so much fun, everyone smiling and laughing, holiday music in the background, tree lit, stories being told and as we sat in the living room to open gifts I had looked around at each person there and was suddenly under the realization that it was actually real... these amazing people were here and I was laughing and talking with them, and somehow I finally realized I was ok and it was ok to see things clearly. So many times before it was pins and needles, the uncomfortable feeling - like the one you get when you first put on a scratchy wool sweater...
The great man's mother handed me a gift from under the tree. It was a gift from him. I opened it, and even now as I write this I become slightly emotional. I remember everything became "cloudy", as if a flashback was happening, the blue rectangular box, the fact that the room went quiet, and any noises being made began to muffle, all of it. I opened the lid and inside was a simple, yet classic, beautiful diamond necklace. This man came over and helped put it on me, and as I sat there with tears welled up, saying thank you and trying to maintain my composure. Though many will think I am crazy – I could have swore Grammy was right there with her hand on my cheek.
I looked up from my spot on the floor and sitting on the couch was one of the great man's brothers. He was holding the hand of a very pretty girl and she had a big smile on her face and I thought for a second that she had tears in her eyes. The girl had been my friend with whom I had confided in, whom I had journeyed with. It was as if I could feel Grammy looking in on me and smiling.
Full circle, Grammy was right, but I think I was right too. I always believed that Grammy would meet the man I was to marry and the children I would have... and there are many times, especially around the holidays, where I can feel her hand on my cheek, and know that she has met and approved. Grammy was a romantic I think... maybe not with her own self, but she sure was with me. The friend who I had confided in is now my sister. The great man is now a wonderful father and even more wonderful husband. Mine.
Miss you Grams... I still have our necklace safe in a box. I placed it in the box that the great mans diamond necklace came in. I believe it will be safe there. Much Love. Me
DevinAnne ©
Comments