When I packed up my things in California for the move to Sweden I really had no idea of what I would need for my new life. I had never lived anywhere outside of my native, season less California so I was aware the whole time that I did not in fact know at all what I was doing.
I did ask my Swedish husband for help, but since he is not a woman he did not understand the implications of being without things like my favorite tea cup that my Grandma gave me on a trip to an antique fair, or a photo album my sister made for me a couple of years ago after our Mother passed away. Because we could only take so many things on the first trip to our new life in Sweden I had to leave many things that I had all of my life,things that are so close to my heart, but would be of no everyday use for me here.
I was able to sneak a few things in without my husband seeing, and this big, American necklace is one of them. It is a well made piece of costume jewelry and when I first picked it up I was hypnotized by the multicolored “stones” and I believed all of my wonderful coworkers at Bloomingdales who said I had to have it. Even when I lived in San Francisco I never wore it out once .I am not sure why I thought that I could not leave without it, but non-the-less it is here and this morning I wear it for no one but myself as I drink coffee. Some people would say I should have brought another scarf instead, but in this moment I know I made the right choice for me.
