Addie, this made me smile (and tear up, of course). I wear Mom's "reconstructed" wedding ring that incorporated her engagement ring with stones from her wedding band -- a gift for their 20th anniversary in 1968. I also wear her original band which the jeweler refused to let her discard. He filled in the "holes" from the stones and put it in the box. Sometimes, when I "need" Dad to be really close, I wear his wedding ring or, more likely, his retirement ring. Your mom and Gaga's gifts are indeed priceless. I think you do know that your Gaga kept that ring, as well as her subsequent marriage, secret from even her closest friends (my mom among them) until she graduated (I think -- it may have gotten "announced earlier in her senior year because Mom was so angry not to be confided in, she refused to ask Carolyn to be a bridesmaid. Obviously, they made peace and remained close until Mom's death in 1988.) Ask your mom if she has my mom's gold cocktail ring. Carolyn asked my dad for something of Mom's and the ring is what he selected.
I had a silver ID bracelet when I was in high school. I wonder where it is now? My folks’ house burned down in the Bastrop fire in 2011. Going through the ashes, I found my mom’s wedding ring that she hadn’t been able to wear for years and she gave it to me. I wore it daily. Then when the COVID lockdown started, I stopped wearing all my jewelry and haven’t started back up. I should, though.
Addie, this made me smile (and tear up, of course). I wear Mom's "reconstructed" wedding ring that incorporated her engagement ring with stones from her wedding band -- a gift for their 20th anniversary in 1968. I also wear her original band which the jeweler refused to let her discard. He filled in the "holes" from the stones and put it in the box. Sometimes, when I "need" Dad to be really close, I wear his wedding ring or, more likely, his retirement ring. Your mom and Gaga's gifts are indeed priceless. I think you do know that your Gaga kept that ring, as well as her subsequent marriage, secret from even her closest friends (my mom among them) until she graduated (I think -- it may have gotten "announced earlier in her senior year because Mom was so angry not to be confided in, she refused to ask Carolyn to be a bridesmaid. Obviously, they made peace and remained close until Mom's death in 1988.) Ask your mom if she has my mom's gold cocktail ring. Carolyn asked my dad for something of Mom's and the ring is what he selected.
I had a silver ID bracelet when I was in high school. I wonder where it is now? My folks’ house burned down in the Bastrop fire in 2011. Going through the ashes, I found my mom’s wedding ring that she hadn’t been able to wear for years and she gave it to me. I wore it daily. Then when the COVID lockdown started, I stopped wearing all my jewelry and haven’t started back up. I should, though.
Happy Birthday Julian!! Lovely story, Addie, thank you for your beautiful writing.
I did not know that mom’s marriage was kept secret! I’ll have to look for the gold cocktail ring.