G for gem

gem (n.)
1. (also gem stone) a beautiful stone that has been cut into a special shape, jewel
2. something that is very special or beautiful
3. very helpful or special person

I never seem to be inseparable from gem#1. I don't wear jewel or I don't buy one (nor does somebody given me one). I had 3 favorite gems: 2 of them were pendant, 1 was on a ring.
One pendant, my first genuine gem (diamond) on platinum necklace, was given by a neighbor as a gift for my getting into uni. The diamond was really very tiny, looking just like a stardust, so adorable. It was restrained and just right as a first jewel. But one day, after I stayed a night at a friend's room, I found the necklace missing. I didn't have the slightest idea where I had lost it. Maybe in her room, maybe on my way home. But it never came back to me.
The next gem, which I fell in love with at the first sight and bought for the first time, was a brand-name item. Which was also a pendant but I forgot what it was: I loved the design, but still can no longer describe what it was like. Because I lost it for the 2nd time I wore it. I remember I took it off before taking a shower, but after that I never saw it again.
And the 3rd and the last gem was a sapphire ring featuring an elephant, which I found in Bangkok and I really loved. I always wore the ring. It was kind of robust looking, so it suited my sturdy finger. But again, it' gone. At my brother's house, I let my nephew toy with the ring. After a while it's simply gone. The place was tidy so we thought we could find the ring soon, but however close we searched, the ring never showed up. Ha!! Then I gave up buying or having a gem. I always carry a limbo, or a black hole, around my right shoulder, and my favorite little tiny gems are supposed to be sucked into it. No doubt.

But I always know my cats are the gem#2 to me. They are a great deal more precious than gemstones! Far more beautiful!! No doubt about that:)

And I always appreciate your concern, gemmy friends:)) I am sometimes self-conscisous, dense, biased, slow, but you don't give up on me. You bring a breath of fresh air into me. Thank you.

宝石にはどうも全く縁がないみたいです。これまでのお気に入りが３つあって、２つは自分で気に入って買ったものだったけれど、どれもこれもすぐになくしてしまった。初めての宝石はいただきもの、星屑のようなダイヤモンドトップとプラチナのネックレス、控えめで気に入っていたのに、ある日友達の家に泊まりにいってなくしてしまった。どこでなくしたか全く分からなくて、気づいたら消えてた、という感じ。２つ目、自分で買ったあるブランドのネックレスはデザインが可愛くて初めて「えいや！」と勇気を出して買った（とはいえ一眼レフよりもずっと安い）。それも２回つけただけで行方不明。３つ目の象をデザインした、小さな小さなサファイヤのついたリング、半年弱は指にはまってたかな。ゴツいリングだったので骨太の私の指にも違和感なくてこれは一番気に入っていた。けれど、これまた甥っ子の家でおもちゃにさせてたらなくなってしまった。あの片付いていた家で、しかもまだハイハイしか出来なかったくらいの甥っ子の行動範囲を隈無く探したのに出てこないなんて。私の右肩あたりにブラックホールがいて飲み込んでしまったとしか思えない。他にも、きっと、いろいろなものを。

あれからは安もんのしか買わなくなり、いつしか１個のリングを除いて（アレルギーの起きないらしい金属で作られたもの）まったくつけなくなったので、アクセサリーを見て心揺れることもなくなった。人生残り３０年（もないな）、宝石を買うことはないだろう。

ウチノネコズが私の宝石。

それにこんな私につきあってくれる数少ない人々。本当にどうもありがとう。

gems: Polaroid SX-70 + 600 film (expired); 7/52 weeks project