Girl with the pearl earings...

Grams and I have the same birth month which means all of her amazing antique garnets have my name on them. Whenever I visit Sister, Mom and I all get to dig threw Grams' jewels trying on pieces as we go. She has some stunners including a pendant made of old Jerusalem church glass, a giant aquamarine cocktail ring that is so sparkly it almost looks fake, and all of the great grandparents inscribed wedding bands. When I turned 18 I got a package in the mail, postmarked from Ventura. In it was a Waterford crystal martini glass holding Grandma's string of Japanese pearls. I adore that necklace and make a point to wear it on my first day of every new job; they make me feel grown-up, glamorous and unstoppable.
Over Thanksgiving break while I played cards with her, the ocean over our shoulders, she told me she had won a gift certificate to her favorite jewelers and that my birthday would be coming early this year. The next day we walked Main Street and window shopped, finally stopping at the jewelers. Together we oooohed and aaaahed over the beautiful necklaces, bracelets and rings until we stopped at the pearl earrings. We picked out the perfect pair and put them on hold. Grandma worked out the details and a few days after getting home from my trip to California I found a little package waiting for me. Inside were my pearl earrings. My set is complete and every time I see them I will think of Grandma, crystal martini glasses and Main Street strolls.
Happy (very) early birthday to me!