You never know what will stick. Some random event in our childhood that years later is the root of a major part of your life. Some source file in the hard drive that is our mind that defines you in ways you may or may not even realize.
Earlier today I received a text from my Aunt asking if I was interested in some stone jewelry pieces that my Granddad (her father) made many moons ago. Granddad has been gone for over 20 years now and just last week we lost my uncle and his last sibling. That generation’s chapter is closing as time ticks by.
Needless to say, it’s left me thoughtful of both my Granddad and Uncle. Being 2000 miles away amplifies this as well. And then this text…a pic of four pieces of my Granddads stone work. And POW… I’m a little girl standing in his rock room like it was yesterday.
He and my Grandma were living in their mobile home in Santa Rosa, it smelled of pipe smoke and that ‘old people’ scent to a little girl. The rock room was down the hall on the left, with a few steps down. I remember it being blue and dusty. I know now that was rock dust from tumbling, cutting cabochons, etc. I was always fascinated by that room and I had no idea why. It was rather chaotic while the rest of the house was orderly and warm. I remember Granddad and his turquoise jewelry…a bracelet stands out in my mind. At one point my older brother even started learning the craft and did some of his own but I never did. Likely I was too little…but I remember the space and the essence.
For years I have said my love of stones and stone jewelry started with a gift from a dear friend when I was right around pre-teen age. Funny how memory is some times. The connection to it was brought into focus with that gift of Fluorite to a confused and awkward pre-teen but the love of stones and their beauty goes so much farther back. And it just came flooding through…hence this oddly personal blog post with no pictures but the ones spinning around in my head.
I am honored and very pleased to receive these pieces of jewelry that in some ways started it all for me. I look forward to having my hands on them and seeing what their next journey will be.
As I told my Aunt, I like to think I am making him proud by carrying on the rock hound gene. And I am grateful to her for sending the message that sparked this memory to help me more fully embrace the origin story of my passion for stone jewelry.
Source file modified. Saving this newer version.
Have you ever had one of your ‘source files’ updated? Had an item/event take you back to a time and place flooded with memories. I’d love to hear about it.
Odd bits of the day:
-5 weeks off sugar and my skin loves me again! (Mostly)
-Outside temp 78F and rainy (Conroe, Tx)
-Essential oil of the day: Stress Away
Until next time, brightest blessings,
-Katt
Note: These memories are how they imprinted on my young mind. They may or may not match actual events but they are how the files in my mind saved them.
Earlier today I received a text from my Aunt asking if I was interested in some stone jewelry pieces that my Granddad (her father) made many moons ago. Granddad has been gone for over 20 years now and just last week we lost my uncle and his last sibling. That generation’s chapter is closing as time ticks by.
Needless to say, it’s left me thoughtful of both my Granddad and Uncle. Being 2000 miles away amplifies this as well. And then this text…a pic of four pieces of my Granddads stone work. And POW… I’m a little girl standing in his rock room like it was yesterday.
He and my Grandma were living in their mobile home in Santa Rosa, it smelled of pipe smoke and that ‘old people’ scent to a little girl. The rock room was down the hall on the left, with a few steps down. I remember it being blue and dusty. I know now that was rock dust from tumbling, cutting cabochons, etc. I was always fascinated by that room and I had no idea why. It was rather chaotic while the rest of the house was orderly and warm. I remember Granddad and his turquoise jewelry…a bracelet stands out in my mind. At one point my older brother even started learning the craft and did some of his own but I never did. Likely I was too little…but I remember the space and the essence.
For years I have said my love of stones and stone jewelry started with a gift from a dear friend when I was right around pre-teen age. Funny how memory is some times. The connection to it was brought into focus with that gift of Fluorite to a confused and awkward pre-teen but the love of stones and their beauty goes so much farther back. And it just came flooding through…hence this oddly personal blog post with no pictures but the ones spinning around in my head.
I am honored and very pleased to receive these pieces of jewelry that in some ways started it all for me. I look forward to having my hands on them and seeing what their next journey will be.
As I told my Aunt, I like to think I am making him proud by carrying on the rock hound gene. And I am grateful to her for sending the message that sparked this memory to help me more fully embrace the origin story of my passion for stone jewelry.
Source file modified. Saving this newer version.
Have you ever had one of your ‘source files’ updated? Had an item/event take you back to a time and place flooded with memories. I’d love to hear about it.
Odd bits of the day:
-5 weeks off sugar and my skin loves me again! (Mostly)
-Outside temp 78F and rainy (Conroe, Tx)
-Essential oil of the day: Stress Away
Until next time, brightest blessings,
-Katt
Note: These memories are how they imprinted on my young mind. They may or may not match actual events but they are how the files in my mind saved them.