A long time ago, my mother gave me a bracelet that she said had been hers.  “It used to say, ‘Cillekin’ on it,” she told me.  “Cillekin” meant her, meant “my child Lucille”.  The engraving had worn away.  You could see its ghost.

I wore the bracelet until 1996, when I lost it at KCI.  Its clasp had failed a few times, and I wore it still, never removing it, without fixing the problem.  I deeply regretted losing it.

A year or two later, I found an Italian silver bracelet at a thrift store.  I knew it was worth more than the $25 asking price, and I bought it.  I crowed when I traced its heritage and found some like it selling for 10 times as much.

I wore that bracelet every day, for the next five years.  One day, I looked down at my wrist and it was simply gone.  It went into the universe somewhere.  I had no idea that it slipped away.  I traced my steps from that day, fruitlessly, and never found it.

For the last few years, I have worn one bracelet on my left wrist and one on my right.  The left is bronze, silver and copper. I bought it in Taos.  The right is sterling, from a wonderful thrift shop on Troost.  They are not chain bracelets; I learned my lesson.  Hard metal cuff-style. I don’t even take them off when I sleep.

For Christmas, my friend Jane gave me a Blessings bracelet.  Turquoise beads and sterling, with little copper spacers.  I read the card; thanked her; and slipped it onto my wrist.  i’ve never bought into fads like this.  I had a Blessings basket which sat for years on my shelf until recently it found its way to Penny’s house.  But this Blessings bracelet comforts me.  I touch each bead and think about something wonderful in my life.  My first round is always the people whom I love.  Jim, Patrick, Cara, Mac, Jay, Joanna — oh, Joanna! How I miss you! — Lisa, Chelsea, Amy….Joyce…..The Infinity Corleys…those who have gone home…

Round and round I count.  My friends.  Jane, Alan, Penny, Pat, Katrina, Paula….Their children.  Chris, Caitlin, Jennie….Abbey ohh Abbey! And then, the events of my life:  Birth, marriage, survival, all the happy meetings of friends who linger, who abide with me.

I’ve gotten quite sappy about the whole thing, to be honest with you.  But I don’t particularly mind.  I’ve always been the sentimental sort.