Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Minerals for Mom





My Mom appreciated the little things


My Mom told me the story of rocks


Of Turquoise, Agate, Opal, Pearl, Citrine, Schist, Tourmaline, Obsidian, Quartz.
Of fossils, of petrified wood, of Diamands, of Pearls.
Of way too many life lessons learned in the most abstract ways...


We would drive along the highway and she would slow way down sometimes to stare at the cuts made in the mountains. She would tell me about each layer, how slow and fascinating the process was that formed our Earth. Igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic...I learned those words before 1st grade, and I felt like I was there as it was all happening...the heat, the pressure, water and wind...synchronicity and harmony...resistance and struggle...

This weekend I took her beautiful spirit with me to a local Gem and Mineral show, just like the ones we used to go to when I was young. My best friend and I scanned each and every booth in the college gymnasium where it was held. We blushed and exclaimed at times, unable to contain our amazement. We saw all of the raw rocks and minerals, all of the polished and unpolished precious and semi-precious stones.

I couldn't help it as I gravitated towards a Turquoise ring with the most beautiful coloring. The patina on the Silver seemed to speak to me and before I knew it, I turned to Becky and said "I need to buy this". As I caught the eye of the woman behind the table, she smiled and said she thinks it's a piece from the 40's, and that the Turquiose is from Southern Colorado. I cried a little as I thought of my Momma. That's where she grew up. I bought it.


This is probably a lot for me to be letting out here on the interweb, and I may end up deleting this because this whole thing is hard...really hard. But for now it feels good to get it out there. No matter what, this will be good for me. For all of us, maybe?


Turquoise is one of my connections to my Mother. When I was small and she would leave the house for a meeting or an event, I would go into her room and take out all of her jewelry and wear it. After her passing, I wear each day a piece from that beautiful collection of hers and it's usually Turquoise. It brings protection and support. And its hers. So, that day I bought a Turquoise ring of my own...with my own money...something that spoke to me...and that means something to me. Something huge. It means now that I can wear her protection with my own, that I am finally starting to see the grief process pay off. That I am starting to find my legs, my feet, and feel my own path as a woman emerge. For that, I am grateful and I'll continue to wear my rocks with pride. I take her everywhere in those bracelets she left for me. So, when people tell me they like my jewelry or they just love Turquoise I tell them "thank you. I do too." ...She does too. I love my Mommy always and forever and she's not going anywhere as long as she's on my wrists.


Thank you, sweet friends, for reading. Intense, I know. But hopeful. I do have hope. So much love to you all, and I hope your Tuesday brings beauty to your life. xoxo

15 comments:

  1. This post was so beautiful and made my eyes well up with tears. Bravo sweet lady :')

    ReplyDelete
  2. this is so sweet! your mom sounds amazing! i have wanted to go to a gem show but just haven't had the time, it would be great to pick up some nice beads for crafting!

    xo,
    cb

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh Adie, what a sweet tribute to your dear mom. I LOVE the ring and turquoise in general, and it's even more amazing with such a lovely meaning behind it. You are one special lady!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Really lovely Adie--I'm glad you put this out in the world.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you SO much, everyone. Your support with this post really means the world to me <3 <3 <3

    ReplyDelete
  6. um...can we hug now?
    seriously, i love this post for so many reasons. and even if you decide to delete it, i'm still going to remember what you wrote. ;)
    i think i needed to read something like this today...life is like a flippin whirlwind right now (still can't believe its august already!) and this post really resonated with me. i felt like between the lines it said: "michelle, take your time. life is short. enjoy each moment. see and feel and do the things that make you grand....like you mean it. be love and you will feel connected." ...i know that's not what you meant by it at all, but i think there are sometimes little messages for others in the things we say and do...and for some reason this one really caught me.
    i love that you love rocks and minerals! and that it makes you feel connected to your mom and yourself...i think this is a wildly important discovery. because (if i can get all "hippie" on you for a moment) i think that these are also the things that connect us to the earth, the universal "mother". its one of those things that shows me that we are all one...we're on this crazy ride together. even if we can't all relate to each other's every story and experience, there is something deeper (and simpler, at the same time) that connects us. (okay...hippie moment over).
    i too am a huge rock lover! (that sounded terribly cheesy!) sometimes i pick up random stones and hold them in my hands to see if any make me feel different, like if one gives me a stronger vibe than another...i have a fun little collection of rocks that "speak to me". i just can't get enough...how they look, how they feel, how they were formed. i love learning about them and finding what properties they hold that are valuable to us (if you believe in that sort of thing). you have one of those shirts that says "geology rocks!", dont you?...consider me jealous. ;)
    you're awesome adie! i just know it.
    yay for you and yay for moms!
    no matter where we are or what we do, they are always with us. always.
    love love...
    michelle

    ReplyDelete
  7. p.s. sorry for writing a blog post of a comment on your page!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh, Michelle!
    Thank you for your comment. You are incredibly sweet, and I'm glad this post struck something in you...and something so grand too! I love your "hippie moment", too and you are oh so right!

    I come toe to toe with her loss every single day, but I know that there is a big gift in there somewhere...somewhere...and that has a lot to do with coming out of the struggle with a new appreciation. It's strange to say, but sometimes I feel like the grieving process has given me untold "powers"..emphathy, a broader 'picture' of things, and a big space for really caring for others (and, uhh..panic attacks! Haha).
    Anyway, thank you so much for your kind words. It really means the world to me to know I touched someone somehow.
    So much love,
    Adie

    ReplyDelete
  9. This was beautifully written--brought tears to my eyes. Much love and hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Adie this is lovely... I am visiting your blog for the first time today and love this post so much! Stones are SO powerful, how beautiful to have them as a connection to your mom. xo

    Carynn

    ReplyDelete
  11. This is so sweet. I was tearing up. I have the same connection to rocks. My mom is constantly collecting them and tumbling them. It's good that you have something to remember her in such a strong sense.

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a beautiful post. My mum is also into crystals and therefore I make a similar connection everytime I spot any.
    Turquoise itself is absolutely beautiful.
    Thank you for sharing this connection with us x

    ReplyDelete
  13. What a beautiful post. My heart is bursting at the seems for you! God bless you <3

    ReplyDelete