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A Birthstone Ring

         Maybe one of the best gifts I ever got was on my 16th birthday from my mother's mother. She didn't have a lot of money. My grandfather had been very ill and unable to work when the kids were young. As he became able to work for longer periods of time, too many years had gone by, leaving them barely making ends meet. My grandparents lived near the downtown area by the time I was a teenager.

         I remember we walked down to Main Street and looked into the jeweler's window. We liked the birthstone display. She said that it wouldn't hurt to go in and take a look. They were 10 karat gold with a simple stone. Mine was amethyst by some charts, but this jewelry line said alexandrite. The rings were $10 a piece. No big deal by today's standards, but it was a significant amount back then. (I remember thinking that a Villager summer blouse for $7 was a lot when I was a high school sophomore). She bought the ring.

         Later when I was showing my mother, she admired it, but pointed out, for her mother ten dollars was a sacrifice. I should appreciate what it meant to her to give me such a gift. So I did appreciate it. I still have the ring. In fact, I still wear it on my left hand, where my wedding ring used to be. It still looks pretty good.

         I know that jewelers don't waste their time with rings like this now. You'd probably find them at a department store. No matter. When I look at it, I see my Grandmother's smile. I remember that I was her first grandchild and am reminded that she loved me.