Adventures In Allergies and Jewelry

It’s only February and I’m already suffering from allergies! I can’t sleep due to the coughing and the other evening my grandson asked me, “MawMaw, what is that noise.” I told him it was my whistle but it’s really me wheezing. Our household consumption of Kleenex has skyrocketed. We’ve purchased almost every over the counter promise of relief to be had. We spray the house daily with Lysol and have never in the past changed our linens as much as we have in these first six weeks of 2005. This year though, along with allergy induced bronchitis, I’ve also developed a new, unheard of allergy – I appear to be allergic to fine jewelry.

This may sound very strange, but I have evidence to support this claim. Every year for Christmas, my husband’s aunt sends us a check to purchase our own gifts. As is my normal custom, I take the money and run to the nearest earring counter. This year I found a lovely pair of silver hoop earrings I just had to have. They were silver tone, a prerequisite for me. The clasps were comfortable and they would go with most of my wardrobe. I paid the price and went happily along my way. The very first time I wore them, one of them jumped from my ear, made its way to who knows where and hasn’t been seen since. I sent out frantic e-mails in hopes that one of my co-workers or friends might have found the wayward earring. But the e-mails went unanswered.

My husband and I have been constructing a slide bracelet and for Christmas he gave me a beautiful emerald-cut amethyst slide. After putting the slide in its place on the bracelet, I secured the clasp of the bracelet on my wrist and headed out the door. I had been at work less than an hour when I was showing the bracelet to one of my co-workers and noticed that the amethyst was no longer on the bracelet. The slide was there, but the stone was gone. Once again I sent out urgent e-mails and made phone calls that bordered on panic. All to no avail. The stone had made a great escape, perhaps returning itself to whence it came. My husband took the offending slide back to the jeweler who offered to replace the stone without charge. In a few weeks the new slide with the new amethyst was back on my bracelet. My husband picked it up from the jeweler and brought it home, safe it its box where it remained.

Just before Valentine’s Day my husband once again convinced me to go with him to the jeweler and look at a new line of jewelry that was being offered with some good discounts. I wasn’t feeling well, but not one to pass on an offer of jewelry, I accepted. We perused the new collection and finally settled on a very unique ring with a cabochon turquoise stone surrounded by small diamonds which in turn were surrounded by black diamonds. It called to me, and though I had concern for the life of the ring and against better judgment we purchased it. We took the ring in its little box and headed home.

I thought that I shouldn’t wear the new ring until Valentine’s Day so I placed it in my jewelry box. While doing so I decided to find the slide bracelet with the amethyst stone. I must admit that I often misplace things, but my husband and I looked everywhere, taking everything out of the jewelry box, all to no avail. I was heartsick.

To make sure that no more jewelry would be lost or have to sacrifice its life under my care, I took the new ring and handed it to my husband in tears, stating that “I don’t deserve beautiful jewelry. I can’t keep up with, so please take the ring away.” He wouldn’t hear of it. I just lay in bed defeated.

After an appropriate amount of grieving I started the search again. Imagine my surprise when I found the missing bracelet at the bottom of the clothes basket, under the neatly folded items. I won’t say how it got there, but I rescued it and then showed my husband, admitting to him where it had escaped to.

I thought that would be the end of the jewelry adventures. On Valentine’s Day I took the new ring out of the little box that had been its home for the past week. I placed it on my finger in anticipation of showing it to my friends. Before I had a chance I noticed that one of the black diamonds was missing. This time I didn’t bother with the e-mails. I already have a reputation of losing too many things and I figured if the stone wanted its freedom that badly, I’d let it go. I did call my husband, who once again called the jeweler. The next day he dutifully took the ring in to the jeweler who is going to replace the stone.

As for me, I’ve gone back to the wearing of my silver jewelry. It may not be glamorous, but it seems to stay put. Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but not this girl.