The Ring
I was compelled to dig through my old jewelry the other day after watching gold hit the $1000 mark. I was just curious to see just how much old gold jewelry I actually had — dollar signs dancing in my eyes, no doubt.
A lot of what I unearthed was mine from the days of charmholders that held lightning bolts and floating hearts, of serpentine chains, zodiac pendants and those nameplates that were rather unfortunately resurrected by Carrie Bradshaw.
The rest was my mother’s and grandmother’s jewelry — or rather what was left of it after my sister picked through it all and took the really, really good stuff.
Nonetheless, I don’t have much affection for yellow gold jewelry these days anyway and with very few sentimentally-based exceptions, I’d happily sell all of it for a thousand dollars an ounce.
But I got distracted when I came across my old silver peace sign ring.
Seeing as I was still in utero during the Summer of Love, it obviously came from a far less intense era — the mid to late eighties. And I’m embarrassed to admit it was, by and large, worn because we thought wearing peace signs were cool and nobody else was doing it — which really just meant you couldn’t yet score any peace sign gear at the mall.
In the interest of full-disclosure, I was a clove-smoking, black-wearing, bob-sporting, mall-hating elitist back then. I apologize to to whomever I may have directed any scornful, thou-art-soooo-inferior eyerolling.
Anyway, not ever having bothered to make myself aware of the actual ugliness of war and never having watched one on TV until a few years later with the Gulf War, I was really just a poseur. I mean sure, I didn’t like war. Most reasonable people don’t. But what did I actually know about war and peace or the fight for peace or the lack of peace? Not a damn thing.
As I sat there and fiddled with the tarnished silver ring, I thought about discussions I’d had with my husband half a decade ago, before the impending quagmire known as Iraq, in which I’d argued that war should be a last resort; that every single option should be exhausted before embarking on something that will cause so much misery and suffering.
These days I spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about the state of the world — the turmoil, the genocide, the civil wars, man’s inhumanity to man… And I say many silent little prayers to whomever might be listening to please save us from ourselves.
So…I’m wearing the ring again. The difference is this time it actually means something.
Thank you for the reminder. I was so busy helping my son celebrate his 5th birthday today, that I forgot about that horrific day that started it all.
I had a tie-dyed shirt with a peace sign on it way back when. I was in the birkenstock wearing, sitting around the fire singing, artist dating crowd (though I NEVER stopped shaving my legs). I don’t think I understood it all either.
These days, I frequently wear clothing with peace signs. I have a depiction of the American flag with PEACE painted across it hanging by my front door. It’s my little form of dissent. What I’d love do is put a “Bush Lied” sticker on my car, but stuff like that doesn’t go over well when you live on a military base!
The answer to your question - W?
Really good post.
Have a great weekend.
And
PEACE to you.
Very nice story. I only wish more people would take the time to stop and reflect on the last five years, and then maybe they could see the horror they have unleased.
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that was an excellent post! I need to get back on to this type of stuff. It’s like a friggin’ drought over at my blogspace. I totally would have eye rolled with you as I sucked on my cloves.
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Ah, quite a message to W, there. I wish it would do some good. I feel like so many around me have their heads in the sand, or are afraid to mention that 2000 lb. gorilla sitting smack dab in their living rooms. My cousin’s over in all that crap and the rest of my family is in full support of the war, yet they can’t say why except to spout boomer nonsense about having to protect us from the forces of evil, to show “THEM” that we won’t take any crap. So foolish and shortsighted, and my poor cousin is scared out of his wits, and so is his wife every time the doorbell or phone rings.
Oooh oooh! I know! The song is dedicated to Shrub, right?
Did you say Contempo? Memories of my favorite shirt that was white paisley on the front and NET on the back. Imagine wearing that shirt while dancing to Dead or Alive under the black lights.
Suddenly, I’m tired just thinking about it.
I miss contempo.
Oh and also, peace is good. War is bad.
Great post..I couldn’t believe five years have passed and what we’ve lost is immeasurable. Sometimes we never learn.. If only we had a voice..I’m beginning to believe we don’t.
My best
Dorothy from grammology
remember to call gram
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W, of course…not only is he evil and a lier but he’s out of touch with reality AND delusional as well! Aren’t we lucky?
***sigh***
Good post!
I smoked cloves, too. I’d forgotten about them until now!
Funny, sometimes how some things can come full circle.
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Perhaps you’ll start a new trend. I’m going to follow right now. (Unfortunately, I am old enough to have had peace sign jewelry) :(
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I love that you dug out the peace sign ring again. That’s great. And how sad that it takes so many dead for us to remember again that it’s not just some trendy motif, but has real meaning.
Also, we’d have smoked cloves together in high school. Until that rumor that “it makes your lungs bleed” at which point we all went ewwwwwww! and switched back to Pall Mall unfiltered.
I’m guessing George Bush, the wonder idiot!
In any case, I get the whole high school elitist thing, only I did it the much more nerdy way without the smoking. But I’m with you sister.
I’m guessing George Bush, the wonder idiot!
In any case, I get the whole high school elitist thing, only I did it the much more nerdy way without the smoking. But I’m with you sister.
Hi Izzy! I started a review site, and tried to email you (of course de-spaminizing the address) and it came back as nonexistent. So, I’m commenting you to see if 1) you’re still adding to the review bloggers blogroll, and 2) how should I contact you for that?
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Loved cloves; loved Contempo, too, after high school when I had an office job and needed trendier clothes. It was hard for me to give up my flannel and black nail polish…
Oh, and I thought about getting rid of my non-sentimental gold, too… Lord knows I could use the money!
Really lovely post.
And I lived for Contempo Casual. Lived for it.
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UR IN MY HEAD READIN MY THAWTS!
Clove cigaretts….Contempo Casuals….oh, my.
Did you see the program on public television called “Bush’s War”? It catalogued the events leading up to the war, and during the war through many interviews, with journalists, and government officials like Richard Armitage and Paul Bremmer! Excellent. Politics is an ugly game.
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That song is obviously dedicated to Dubya.
In the Trenches of Mommyhood’s last blog post..So Long
Oh Contempo Casuals. Wow. That was a long time ago. Am reminded of some of the outfits I bought there. (Shudder)
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I’m guessing W as well. Great post. Is gold really up to $1000 an ounce. I think I need to raid my jewelry.
Great post.
I didn’t have a peace ring, but I drew a large peace sign on the backpack I carried in high school. I too was a poseur though. Now that our friend is off to war, I too pray for peace. I hope someday it helps.
“In the interest of full-disclosure, I was a clove-smoking, black-wearing, bob-sporting, mall-hating elitist back then.”
To look upon me would be a blast from the past then =P Although I’m growing out my hair, I’ve got the Djarums and black part down pat.
And there’s a giant peace button on my (one and only) black & white purse. The strap has 80% political buttons on it too. My favorite is Dubya saying “Rarely is the question asked: is our children learning?” I wear blank dog tags every day to memorialize the soldiers lost.
And to think all this happened because the media exaggerated a few things and left out the important details - really, when you boil it down, that’s the truth. Going to a media reform conference in June to see how I can help more =)