Tuesday, August 25, 2009

GENERATIONS



My great-grandmother was born in 1896. Sometime between 16 and 21years old, or between the years of 1912 and 1917, she was given a gold bracelet. Her name was engraved inside it.

My grandmother was born in 1923. Her mom died when she was three years old and the gold bracelet was passed to her. Her name was engraved inside it.

My mom was born in 1953. She was given the bracelet on her eighteenth birthday. Her name was engraved inside it.

I was born in 1976. My mom died when I was fifteen years old and the bracelet was passed to me. I will engrave my name in it.

My daughter was born in 2007. She'll receive the bracelet when she turns eighteen. At that point there probably won't be room for any new names to be engraved.

The bracelet is nearly 100 years old.

The picture above spans four generations - my grandma, my mom (not pictured, as she died many years ago) me, and my daughter - and includes the bracelet that has been worn by four generations, with the fifth generation just sixteen years away from wearing it.

I love this picture!

12 comments:

Pam Carter said...

OK, Bethany, way to make me cry once again! I love your family!Naomi is receiving much more than a gold bracelet from her heritage. She has many wonderful women in her past, not the least of which is her own mom.

perkyguy said...

I love the picture, too. Who took it?

Lawfrog said...

I love this. It is not just tradition that is passed down with things like this, it's knowing that you come from a long line of strong women all of whom you can gather strength from by knowing they too wore the bracelet. They are with you in spirit.

Thank you for sharing this Bethany, it's truly a lovely story. Perhaps Naomi can get a second bracelet and connect it to the first so that Naomi's daughter can engrave her name in the second bracelet, while still carrying on the tradition of wearing the first.

Hook House said...

Love it! Sounds like a necklace in my family. My grandmother got it from her mother for her 8th grade graduation, she gave it to me for my 8th grade graduation and when Hannah graduated from 8th grade, I passed it to her and she wears it quite often. It's a heart locket with my grandmothers initials and date graduated, then my initials and my date graduated but no more room. :o( Inside are pictures . . . 1 of my grandmother, 1 of me. Coolioso!

BETHANY said...

Dad - We did it at Penney's when we went in for Naomi's annual pics.

Simone said...

Boy, Bethany. That is lovely. All of it. The picture, and the words written about it! So great. Tears to my eyes. I want to do that, huh, wonder IF I would ever have a daughter?!

grammie of 3 said...

Thanks for sharing Bethany. You will have to figure a way for Naomi to add her name to that one or start a new one.

jmquilts said...

Oh what a precious story!!!! I love,love,love that you are close with your grandma. <3

The Boggs Family said...

That's awesome!! What a great idea! I love the picture!!!!

knit1kids4 said...

Beautiful story, beautiful picture

Jacki R. said...

This is incredible! What a great family tradition!

Kelly said...

What a great legacy Bethany!!