Every Earring Tells a Story

Today was a simple day. I didn't sleep so well last night so I wasn't terribly energetic to do much.One of the simple joys of the day was organizing a few of my earrings that I had hurriedly thrown into my carrying bags when it was time to relocate to a hotel post-fire investigation.

I didn't realize that I had so many singular and broken earrings with me. I spent a few moments to put them aside. Later, I will see if anything can be done to repair or re purpose them. I was pleased to see that some of the earrings I managed to bring with me actually matched. *smile* It gave me an idea for a blog about how even earrings have stories to tell. So here are some earring stories.

I purchased the earrings (left) for myself so many years ago that it was difficult to remember where I bought them. While I was putting this blog together, my memories of the day were triggered. I also remembered that I had originally purchased a necklace to go with the earrings. The necklace fell apart some time ago and is also awaiting repair or re-purpose. The entire set was purchased for what I thought was a great savings when I attended a pow-wow (Aboriginal dance gathering). They are fashioned out of turquoise and silver. Materials which are more often used in traditional southwestern Native American regalia, but are now used by many other Native peoples throughout North America. The pow-wow I attended was held in Kanesatake, Quebec. A place better known in contemporary Canadian culture as the place where the Canadian army & the Aboriginal people of Kanesatake were in an armed standoff over the desecration of a Native burial site. The standoff arose due Aboriginal frustration and anger over a local golf course expansion onto their burial grounds.

The earrings on the right are made of silver and abalone. The silver is carved with an eagle design. They were made on Vancouver Island and given to me by my mother for my birthday a few years ago. Unfortunately, I have a habit of losing hook earrings from my right ear. They simply fall out of my ear throughout the day. True to form, the right earring went missing after several months of wear.

Later, I purchased another set and promptly lost the right earring! Good thing I kept the one from the first set so I still have a "pair". In taking the photos of the earrings today, I noticed for the first time that one of the earrings has a silver ball just above the carved piece, while the other earring has a bronze coloured ball, *smile. That's okay. I will still wear them as a set. I don't think anyone will know the difference unless they've read this blog!

I do so love the vibrant blue colour of these earrings. I also love that they have the eagle design. Eagles are important in both Native American/Aboriginal culture and also in the Biblical/Christian culture.

The earrings to the left are what I would term an impulsive purchase based on the trendy fashion of the time. They are made of pink cubic zirconium and the colour is brighter & lovelier than this photo depicts. Sadly, I've never worn them. Don't you find this is often the case with impulse or trendy purchases? Pink diamonds were all the rage a few years back when Ben Affleck gave Jennifer Lopez a huge pink diamond engagement ring. Sadly, that marriage never happened so the engagement now too seems to have been a impulse, though I probably shouldn't speculate on the private lives of celebs.

The earrings on the right are made of mixed white and yellow gold. They are very lightweight so there is very little gold in them. I bought them from the shopping channel when I was looking for a budget pair of hoops that would coordinate with everything. This is a case of the photo of the earrings looking better than the actual product. How can that be?

Hoops are one of my favourite types of earrings because I can wear them daily. I usually like to have gold hoops on hand because they also go with most attire and one thing I really don't do much of is change my jewellery from day to day. I bought these hoops at The Bay (formerly The Hudson Bay). This store got its start years ago as a British fur trading company; a company which played a significant role in Canadian history and relations with the Aboriginal/Native peoples. The Hudson Bay Company even has an extensive and valuable archival collection which is open to the public for research purposes. The was truly a Canadian institution. Sadly, it was sold in July 2008 to an American company. It is still hard to fathom that what was once such a Canadian institution, is no longer in Canadian hands but is now in American hands. Such is the world of business.

To the right you will find garnet earrings set in gold. These were purchased in Prague, Czech Republic on my one and only trip there in December 2005. My how time flies!

Prague was a cold, but delightful place to visit in December. Christmas lights and markets were everywhere and the sites of the city were all within walking distance or short subway ride from the historic old town centre where I lodged.

Magical scenes of buildings and Christmas scenery abounded and my imagination ran to remembrances of childhood storybooks. One day, I shall write about some of my experiences in this enchanting place.

Garnet earrings are called "granat" in Prague. (I guess that is probably garnet in the Czech language). Garnet earrings are a very popular stone to purchase in Prague and they are usually set in 14K or 18K gold. I purchased garnet earrings set in 14K gold setting. I'm not usually so extravagant in my personal purchases but I told myself that these earrings will last me a lifetime and remind me of the wonderful memories of my trip. I can only wear 14 carat gold or higher as my ears have never fully healed from the piercing process. The purchase was quite expensive for me, especially given the difference between the Canadian and the Euro dollars. It was the only purchase I made for myself while in the Czech Republic.

After strolling down memory lane about how I came to be in the possession of each set of the earrings shown in the photos, I settled on wearing the lovely turquoise and silver earrings. I do love their engraved and embellished setting and the lovely blue green colour of the stone. I haven't worn this pair for a long while and so it is long past time to enjoy them once again.

I leave you with this parting thought.

I have always loved gold, silver and precious stones for their intrinsic beauty, and also, because I love just about anything that comes from the earth itself (examples, gold, silver, jewels, wood, etc.). God certainly knew what He was doing when he created these precious gems and metals. At the same time, I know and appreciate that God esteems us, His created beings. He esteems us so highly that He calls us "His jewels".

This thought is worth far more to me than all the gems in the world. It means I hope to be with my Father in glory some day when He returns. The world's politics, disasters and economies, they all trip along from one catastrophe to another. I can do little about that but the thought that I am "His precious jewel" brings me great comfort for these dark times.

¹⁶Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.¹⁷And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.¹⁸Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

Malachi 3:16-18

If you enjoyed this blog, please check back again sometime. I'm mulling over thoughts of another post about jewellery based on a Bible reading I did today. I'm still working out the concept in my mind. If the concept works, I'll write the blog. God bless you, til you read me again *smile.