by Esther P. Chase

Charms for Laura's Completion of Law School

It still amazes me how interested my students were in my charms and charm bracelet jewelry collections. They had obviously heard from my former students about my extensive charms for charm bracelet collection and would request to see my charm bracelets in 10kt and 14kt gold in white and yellow, or sterling silver. Over the years, I had even used my charms bracelets or necklaces as the basis for writing assignments. The tradition of charm acquisitions extended to my school as well. When some of my cohorts started to retire, we gave them bracelet charms or necklace charms. Depending on how much money we collected for the retirement gift, we ordered sterling silver charms or 14kt gold charms. The white gold necklace charms were my favorite.

At this point in my life, I became a serious gardener. Steve had selected a watering can charm and a garden hat charm and I was more than happy to add these silver and gold charms to my charm bracelets. He was (and still is) a very thoughtful husband.

We were all going to Boston to attend Laura's graduation from law school. I knew Stevie would be adding charms to Laura's sterling silver and gold charm bracelet jewelry collection to mark this important milestone. The graduation was wonderful and we all enjoyed our trip to Boston.

Elizabeth and Daniel had finally set their wedding date. Elizabeth opted for a June wedding. Daniel asked for my help in selecting a new charms bracelet with one of the wedding ring charms as his wedding gift to Elizabeth. We agreed on a 14K white gold charms bracelet with one of the 14K white gold wedding ring charms. I was pleased to see the charms bracelets family tradition was being kept alive by my future son-in-law.

Plans were underway for the wedding. Elizabeth asked Laura to be her matron-of-honor. Laura held a wedding shower for Elizabeth. A few weeks before the shower, Laura asked to borrow all our charms bracelets. The theme for the shower was "Charms Bracelets-Elizabeth and Daniel carry on the family tradition." Laura had oversized photographs of our charms bracelets hung on all the walls. There was a lot of conversation about charm necklaces and charm bracelets that day. Laura had done a beautiful job in planning the shower. To show her appreciation, Elizabeth ordered a special charm from the Rembrandt charms collection to be added to Laura's charm bracelet jewelry collection.

Since Laura's gifts to her bridesmaids (14K white gold charms) were such a hit, Elizabeth decided to do the same for her attendants. She ordered the charms and charm bracelets from www.chains-and-charms.com website. Because Laura had a charms bracelet Elizabeth also ordered a special charm from the charms collection for Laura's charms bracelet. At the rehearsal dinner, after Elizabeth presented her bridal attendants with their 14K white gold charms and charm bracelets, Daniel gave me a son charm for my charms bracelet. I was very touched; especially after he showed me he had his initials engraved so it wouldn't compete with the son and daughter charms already on my bracelet.

Chapter 18 - Charms in Gold and Silver for Stevie and Laura's Big Announcement