Wonder Woman

When I was a little girl I used to sneak into my mothers jewelry box, as little girls are apt to do. I would take out each piece of jewelry and carefully lay them out on the bed. I wasn't really admiring all the shiny gold, silver and assorted gems ... instead I was looking for something in particular...

My wonder woman bracelets. You see, there were these two bracelets that didn't exactly match, but when you put them on and jumped off the couch onto the living room floor you were magically transformed into Wonder Woman. At least, in my imaginary world I was transformed into Wonder Woman.

When my Mom passed away five years ago this month, my sisters and I went through my mother's jewelry. Much of it was given away. Some of it I have in storage to give to my nieces when they are older. Some of it my sisters and I negotiated who would get to have what. My oldest sister was eying one of my wonder woman bracelets. She wanted it because it was Columbian silver and she is a Latin American historian - there was a correlation there. But then I looked really sad, and she asked me what was up, so I told her that it was one of my wonder woman bracelets. In the end, I was the proud recipient of my mother's bracelets. I have the other one too, although it's not nearly as shiny, pretty or wonder womany.

Two addenda (is that the plural of addendum?) to this story.

One ... I've been known to wear my silver wonder woman bracelet when I'm feeling in the need of power. Wonder Woman power yes, but more it's just to remind myself that I am the strong and powerful daughter of my mother. In fact, I wore my wonder woman bracelet on my vows day! It was to ward off those tears - I didn't want a repeat of my reception where I was crying from joy in all the photos. I wanted to look radiant, not teary eyed in my photos, and for the most part it worked.

Two ... As I was telling this story of the wonder woman bracelets to my friend Susie, she told me to ask her daughter - my goddaughter - what she was going to be for Halloween. My goddaughter is 4, and she of course is dressing up as Wonder Woman! In fact, I just got to watch a little video clip of her in her Wonder Woman costume. So cute! And yes, in case you're wondering, she does have some very cool silver bracelets!