sol25 March22 Coincidence?

 

This month, I have been writing every day and sharing

 through the Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Challenge

Today, my slice is about my Grandmother, my Mother and My Granddaughter

"Can you tell me the story of how these were made?" she asked donning the old wooden beads as if they were Cartier accessories? 

I am sure she noticed the questioning look on my face and then began, "You know the story of how your grandmother carved each bead out of wood and then sanded and painted them as part of her Campfire Girls program. She did not have power tools like Mommy does. She did it all by hand and it took a whole year. After she put them on a real leather string made out of a real skin of a real animal long ago. She wore them for ceremonies and saved them as a treasure.  I just love that story." 

I smiled.  In reality, all I know is that these beads were treasured by my mother and while I saw them once or twice, I never touched them. I made up that story based on a bits and pieces of family lore and a picture.  The beads, well worn from time if not from use, came from a box of treasures with my mother's wedding dress, never touched until that Pandemic day when MY granddaughter descended on my house so her parents could work. I was pretty desperate for dressing up clothes as the pandemic was not in my plan. 

Clearly, I did not need to retell the story, but it did get me thinking and I dug until I found pictures of MY mother and MY grandmother in those Campfire Girl beads.

Here comes the really crazy coincidence.  In the first picture, wearing the beads, my Mother was 9 years old.  In the second picture, my Grandmother was nine years old. I am pretty sure you can guess how old my Granddaughter is?  

I am pretty sure nine seems to be a sweet spot for those beads.  I am pretty sure this is not just coincidence.