From diamonds to silly bandz...

I grew up in New York.  Long Island.  If you watch the Real Housewives of New Jersey or the Jersey Shore or even Jerseylicious, THAT is what we looked like back in the 80's.  Seriously.  Big hair, obnoxious clothes and TONS of jewelry.  I was draped in it always.

When we moved to NC, I noticed that not all people looked that way.  Honestly, I tired of the jewelry and didn't wear all that much.  But things were tight after the move and so I ended up selling most of my gold.  It didn't make me sad to do it.  I had only one piece of jewelry left (other than my engagement ring and wedding band) that was real gold with real diamond (albeit small ones) and I decided to get rid of that one, too.  I took it to the local pawn shop and was pleased to make a little bit of money.  Actually, I am trying to put money aside so that we can visit my in-laws down in Florida this year and being that we had so many months of Frank being out of work and then getting screwed on this bathroom renovation, we had spent what little we had put aside for the trip.  So little by little I am selling off some things in hopes of raising the money.

But I digress...so after I left the pawn shop (and can I just say, with my NY accent, people still think I am saying "Porn" shop) I was driving away and I looked at my hands on the steering wheel.  On my left hand is my wedding band and engagement ring - which I love.  On my left wrist is a Mickey Mouse silly band.  On my right hand is a silly ring in the shape of a heart (a red one) that Michael gave me last week and on my right wrist is my Mickey Mouse watch that I got at Walmart for $10 two years ago that plays the theme to the Mickey Mouse Club.  

As a former Italian princess from Long Island, that is saying a LOT.  But you know what?  These little items on my hands and wrists mean more to me than all of the gold that I had in my life.  I don't miss the gold.  I don't miss the diamonds.  I'll miss the day when my little boy doesn't have time to give me a silly band that he knows I'll love or won't wake me up to place a heart on my finger.  So for now, I will treasure them...