Pride and Joy

I was recently blessed with my third grandson, Benjamin; a beautiful baby boy, who according to his Great Grandmother, looks a lot like his Grandpa, not just similar noses but lots of black hair and Elvis like sideburns at birth. Every grandparent feels the same emotion about their grandkids; if it is only one or many, one thing is for sure - there is so much pride and joy. Before I became a Grandpa, I could never understand what the fuss was all about until you hold that tiny baby and realize I had an important part of continuing our family tree. I quickly discovered it takes a short time for my two previous grandsons to run me ragged when they or I visit - I will need to find some stronger vitamins when little Ben joins the tribe and is running around soon.  

That feeling got me thinking, pride and joy does not necessarily pertain to only flesh and blood; it can be material things, too. A car, motorcycle, or a boat - even a garden - you name it. Pride can be a strong feeling of accomplishment especially if you personally built or restored that automobile or bike and the joy it brings that person(s) every time he or she drives it and gets compliments on a job well done. My ‘73 Ford Pickup Truck is not in an immaculately restored state; it’s got dings, paint blemishes and bits of rust here and there, it’s a farm work truck…you would not believe the attention that truck gets around town not to mention the many offers to buy it! I had just graduated high school when that truck was built, it can be considered an antique, I guess that makes two of us? Then there are my best furry friends; my three dogs, another of my flesh and blood pride and joys. 

I take pride in the jewelry I create and have created over the many decades, also the process of searching and procuring exotic gemstones and magnificent diamonds to meet the demands of my many customers. I discovered it’s yet another thing that gives me immeasurable pride plus the fact it also gives joy to others besides myself. It’s a feeling to me that never gets old - creating a piece of jewelry from a lump of gold and a loose gem or diamond and a few days later there is a glistening one-of-a-kind ring or pendant that becomes someone else’s pride and joy. The emotions that present themselves when I show the finished piece to many happy clients, I can vouch for first hand. I have had to remove lipstick on my cheeks on more than a few occasions before my wife sees it and questions where it originated.

I find the most emotional and cherished pieces of jewelry are the ones that are a complete surprise. On many occasions a couple will come in and the wife will just love something she saw in my window display and then the husband sees the price and will tell the love of his life “No way!”. Moments later he will call on the sly and have me put it away for him to pick up later. On more than one occasion when hubby said no, the Mrs. would return a day later without him and buy it for herself! 

I once had a husband put a very expensive ring aside after telling her no. He paid in full and asked me to keep it in my safe until December (it was late August.) I said, “no problem”; only a few days later it became a really big problem. The wife came in days later to buy it herself and freaked out when she saw the ring was gone. I told her I sold it the day before, I could not tell her that her husband bought it and I was holding it for him. (I didn’t lie, I did sell it!) I presumed it was going to be presented to her on Christmas Day! It then got emotional in a bad way, she demanded “I find another one just like it!” even if it was more expensive. She must have come in the shop a dozen times asking if I located another ring. I had to hide from her or tell my staff I’m not here on several occasions. I even called the husband in October begging him to call her off; she was becoming a bit angry at me by then. I had to hang in there or spoil the surprise. December finally came with me sporting a few new grey hairs and a near ulcer for what I went through. Luckily it was an early December anniversary gift. She came in the next day after receiving the ring, hugged and kissed me and apologized for what she and he had put me through those long, excruciating months and what a sport I was for not ruining the surprise.

That ring will always be her pride and joy, and my ultimate joy was to finally get it out of my safe and on her finger!