The Pearl Ring
When I was a young girl of 13, I eye-spied an airtight tin can sitting on a shallow shelf near the kitchen sink. It had sat there for many years, forgotten and gathering dust, nestled among ceramic statues of Mother Mary, Praying Hands, and a chipped-eared white bunny.
At two years old, I was too young to remember our family’s first vacation to Florida in 1961. My parents had visited a popular tourist attraction, and my mother had purchased, for ten cents, a small can from a fishery. The can had seemingly opaque sides, barely enough to see through, and inside was a mussel with the promise of a pearl hidden within.
Years passed, and teenage curiosity piqued my interest. I noticed this odd container, plucked it off the shelf, and shook it gently until the murky seawater clouded the object inside. Only a hint of the mollusk remained visible. With permission, and a trusty can opener in hand, I anxiously punctured the lid, unlocking its treasure. What came next was a jolt to my senses. Instantly, the air was permeated with the most malodorous, putrid, foul fishy tang from the stale waters, nearly ceasing all inclination to continue. But I pressed on, shucking the odiferous mollusk. To my astonishment, deep inside the black gook and slime was the most beautiful white, round, and brilliant pearl staring back at me!
At that moment, the excitement of discovery seemed most important. School life and ballet classes continued, and the year unfolded without much fanfare. I seemed to have forgotten about the sweetness of this little pearl. Then, as 8th-grade graduation neared, my parents surprised me with a gift greater than any child could imagine—this special pearl, now mounted on a gold ring.
It has been 47 years since that day, and my ring has become an integral part of my personal history, spanning every important life event I have experienced. My mother, now 100 years old, was recently asked if she recalled where my ring came from. She, too, had forgotten the pearl. In that moment, I had the honor of recounting our story together, inviting her back in time to relive the memories she helped to create.
If you have a daughter or granddaughter, you may wish to do the same. Your pearl will travel with your loved one through their lifetime milestones, becoming a cherished token of love and remembrance. It will always be remembered and forever held close to their heart.
