My power source

As I was rushing out my front door the other night to meet some friends for supper, I suddenly felt so…off.

Something was definitely missing. I confirmed that I had my purse, wallet, keys and cell phone (you know—the absolute necessities), yet I still felt oddly exposed. Vulnerable.
Then it hit me: my ring! I'd forgotten to put my ring back on since freshening up. Though I was already running behind, leaving without that ring was not an option.

She-ra (Princess of Power) had her tiara—not a dainty crown that sat on top of her head, but more like a gold sweatband on her forehead accentuating her femininity as she kicked ass.

Wonder Woman had gold laser-shooting cuffs that not only came in handy when catching "bad guys", but also made her costume really pop.

Jerica Benton (who technically had no traditional super powers) had her blinking pink earrings that transformed her from her mousey self into the rockin' front woman for Jem and the Holograms.

My source of power seems to come from a gold dome class ring from 1947; I found it in an antique store and was immediately struck by its similarity to one that my maternal grandmother wore (the very one that my mom wears today). My Mamaw Janice was a superhero; she had healing powers: from her smile, hugs, cooking, laugh—everything about her was magic to me.

It was when I dashed back in to get my ring that I noticed that virtually every piece of jewelry I own was given to me by (or belonged to) someone I deeply love and each carries a little magic of its own.

The other powerful accessories I have in my arsenal: Mamaw Janice's diamond studs, a bracelet of my Mama's, a wonderfully gaudy cocktail ring that belonged to my Mamaw Helen (paternal grandmother), a tiny ring of my great grandmother's, my grandfather's wedding band (that fits snugly on my pointer finger), a necklace my mom received from my dad when I was born, necklaces that were gifts from my sisters, and a pin given to me by my middle sister, Jaime. I also have a gold bracelet that matches ones worn by 2 wonderful friends of mine--we wear them when we are apart, but need to feel supported.

These things mean so much to me not because of their replacement value (which would be surprisingly little), but because of the things they represent: women in my life who have worked incredibly hard, who gave so willingly of themselves, who may have lost husbands/children, but never lost their senses of humor...women who may not have had a lot of money, but were extremely rich in the things that matter.

I selfishly want to claim some of that grace for myself…as though they've passed some of their strength into these trinkets—and it's just waiting to be soaked into me.

Maybe they have.

Every time I wear one of these pieces, I'm reminded that someone loves me. Of the stock I come from. Of the kind of person I want to be…the kind of woman I should aspire to be, and I feel a strength and confidence that I didn't possess on my own.

I can only hope to pass that on someday myself.