Gramma's Ring

So, you might remember that both of my grandmas passed away last fall -- my Gramma Johnson in September and my Grandma Bickley just three weeks later in October. For no particular reason at all, I've been missing both of them quite a bit lately. No one is quite as excited to see you or hear about your day like your grandma. My Gramma J. for sure was always such a good listener and a source of unconditional encouragement. Of course, I miss her and all that encompassed who she was, but I also miss the way I felt when I was with her: important; cherished; adored. We all need to feel like we're at the top of someone's list every now and then, and my Gramma made me feel that way every time I saw her. My Grandma B. had a faith unlike anyone I've ever known. While she was alive, I didn't really understand her, and I'm a bit ashamed to admit that I didn't seek to know her or ask her about why she believed the things that she did. For reasons that are too lengthy for this particular post, the last few months have been extremely spiritually challenging for me. I have a lot of questions and a lot of anxiety that I just know she could've helped me work through. I think we could've really bonded over that conversation, and I'm genuinely sad that we will not ever have that opportunity (although she left her Bible full of handwritten notes and passages that I would love to read through someday).

When my Gramma J. died, she left me her emerald ring. I feel so blessed and honored to be entrusted with this treasure; certainly, it has great monetary value, but more importantly, it holds great sentimental value for all of us who loved her because it was one of her favorite and most worn pieces of jewelry. She designed it sometime in the 80's with a jeweler here in Portland who has become a family friend throughout the years. I have dozens of specific memories of my Gramma wearing her emerald ring, and I can vividly recall what it looked like on her individual hand. I have always admired it, but it was quite a few sizes too big for my finger and looked a bit awkward on my hand. I would've happily gazed at it in my jewelry box every day, but it most likely would not have ever left my bedroom. My mom, however -- true to her creative and generous nature -- offered to take me to the same jeweler who designed the ring in the first place and have it redesigned with all of its original elements to suit my hand and my taste. Fabulous. Just fabulous. Given our current stage of life, it would've been 15 or 20 years before we could've justified such an expense. It is by no means a necessity, but I'm so grateful to my parents for continuously treating me to the "un-necessities" of life -- they are never lost on me. The completed ring was delivered to me today, and just look at how beautiful it is:

I am thrilled with it. My mom is thrilled with it. And I really think my Gramma would be thrilled with it, too. I love that this gold and these jewels encircled her finger for nearly 30 years. It's beautiful and sparkly, and I get all girly and giddy looking at it dance around on my hand, but I just love that it was hers...and I hope someday that my grand-daughter will feel it encircling her finger and smile at its beauty and feel the same way.