by Esther P. Chase

Charms for the Kids College Years

Stevie was accepted to Princeton! He viewed his college years with trepidation; his father and I were ecstatic. His charms bracelet was populated with 14kt and 10kt gold, in white and yellow, and sterling silver charms depicting various sports, high school graduation, and many other milestones. It was time now for a college charm for charm bracelets. We searched www.chains-and-charms.com and explored their college charms collection for a Princeton charm.

Elizabeth's collection of charms for a charm bracelet grew as well. A dancing girl charm from the dancing collection was purchased for her prom, a nd later, from the graduation collection, a diploma in sterling silver. Charm bracelet charms quickly became an addiction for Elizabeth as they were for me. She spent her gift money on several charm additions in gold for her charm bracelet.

Not long after Elizabeth's graduation, Steve and I had yet another charm to purchase. Elizabeth was accepted to the University of Pennsylvania for pre-med! We, o f course, added a "U of P" 14kt gold charm to her charms bracelet. When Elizabeth left for college, my house was suddenly very empty and quiet. I definitely had "Empty Nest Syndrome." My very perceptive husband recognized this and searched the bird collection of charms on www.chains-and-charms.com. He ordered a 14kt white gold nest charm for my charms bracelet.

Our 25th wedding anniversary approached and we decided to celebrate with a trip. I don't remember what was more exciting, the trip or the many hours spent researching a charm while I cuddled with Steve. We went on an Alaskan cruise coupled with an overland train tour. Touching the charms on my charms bracelet, I remember the trip was all we had hoped for. We had added charms for Alaska, the cruise ship, and a salmon. We took a very exciting side trip to fish for salmon.

Shortly after our trip, Stevie graduated from Princeton. Stevie's graduation from Princeton was a double celebration. He graduated third in his class and had been accepted to Harvard Law School. I remember my first jubilant thoughts, quickly followed by the following worrisome ones: One, his father and I would be working forever to pay for his schooling; two, should we stop calling him Stevie since he was a grown man; three, was he still interested in his charms bracelet and anxious to examine the new charms we have added for his college graduation and acceptance to Harvard Law School. One thought I wish I could have worried about was grandchildren. Stevie had numerous female friends through high school and college, but nothing serious. Though I occasionally checked out the grandchildren charms on www.chains-and-charms.com, I realized I had a long wait.

Our 30th anniversary was a dual celebration, hence the acquisition of two charms instead of one. Not only was it our anniversary, but we also paid off our mortgage! With two children in post-graduate studies, it was a relief to finally own our home.

Chapter 13 - Yet Another Graduation Charm for a Charm Bracelet