Serenity Now Sunday Nov 8 09

I sat this morning and wound yarn around my Dad’s wedding ring. The one from when he married my mom. I decided I wanted to wear it on my thumb, but it needed some extra padding to get it to fit.

I wound the yarn and thought about girls in high school who wore their boyfriends’ class rings on their bony fingers. Wrapped with a huge tangle of yarn to keep it on the finger.

It reminded me of that first boyfriend back in 8th grade. We traded watches. My red and black Coke watch for his blue Swatch. When we broke up, he wouldn’t give my watch back. I nagged and asked. I thought he was just being obstinate. Finally his mom called and told me he’d accidentally broken the watch. She’d tried to replace it but it was out of stock. Once I knew what the problem was, I was able to shake it off. Years later he told me in exact detail how he’d completely busted it when it got caught between his wrist and a pipe.

I thought back farther to third grade. I traded my credit card sized calculator for one of those pens that had the 4 colors in it – you could click the button to choose your color – red, black, blue or green. The trade was supposed to be for one night. The next day the girl came back to school – without my calculator. And the next. And the next. And then she moved away. My mom replaced the calculator. I still have the pen. I kept it as a reminder.

Only share something, if I’m okay not getting it back.

I find that to be true most of the time. Books, clothes, cars, hearts . . .

I know breakups where the most bitterness comes from, “I just wanted my damn book back!”

I know friendships fractured because one friend washed another friends white sweater with RED socks.

I loaned my car to a friend once, who got in a minor accident (not even her fault), but I still had the bashed up car. 10 years later when my MIL came to stay with us, I flat out refused to loan my car. Look, I said, I’ve been there, if something happens, I’ll be completely pissed off and it’s WORTH the money to get a rental. Hell I’ll PAY for the rental.

Along with that goes learning the worth of things. If it’s a book I can replace? Sure, I’ll pass it off to a friend. If it’s a dress I’ve loved, but would look better on a skinny friend. Go for it.

If it’s the outfit my friend sent me from France that I love seeing Alex in every time he wore it? Hellz no.

So there’s my wisdom of the day. Know the worth in what is around you. Keep close what matters most. Give freely the rest.

xoxo

6 Responses to “Serenity Now Sunday Nov 8 09”

1. VDog says:

   11/08/2009 at 11:47 am

   Very nice, Dawn.

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2. Jen says:

   11/08/2009 at 11:51 am

   I think I will take your words to heart and really evaulate the worth of some of my own things as well. This was a really thoughtful post!!

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3. Maria says:

   11/08/2009 at 11:53 am

   Beautiful.

   Thank you.

   [Reply]
4. Lex ~ @laprimera says:

   11/08/2009 at 12:12 pm

   Wise words, Dawn.

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5. ExtraordinaryMommy says:

   11/08/2009 at 3:30 pm

   I love this. It is so true and so sweetly written. You took me right back to grade school with you……I do always try to keep what matters most extra-close!

   xoxo

   [Reply]
6. Sarah says:

   11/09/2009 at 11:39 am

   It’s a reminder that for the most part, things are just things… and sometimes THINGS have more meaning than we realize.

   [Reply]