Well I got my bangle! On our 23rd wedding anniversary a couple of days ago, I rushed in to the nursing home with my gift to Anthony of two bananas and asked him if I could have a silver bangle to add to my collection.
As he consumed the bananas, he looked at me quizzically and asked one of his daily questions: “How much money is in the bank?”
I gave him an inflated estimate and he said, “$3,000, but it has to be a two-door, not a four-door.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” I said.
“The Torana,” he said. [Long story – he used to have a Torana A9X which we unfortunately sold before it became a valuable collector’s item and recently our friend, D. had brought him some laminated photos of the vehicle + a couple of Torana magazines.]
“I’m not talking about a car!” I exclaimed, “I’m talking about a silver bangle!”
At the same time my mother arrived with anniversary presents for both of us – a beanie she’d knitted for Ants and a packet of my favourite cheese, Jarslberg, for me.
“Make sure you get a really good one,” Anthony said when he realised I was talking jewellery, not automobiles.
So my mother and I went downtown to the special jeweller’s whose shop I would visit once a year after Ants got so ill, Baroque, and I immediately fell in love with this!
I asked the jeweller for a massive discount on the basis that my husband was in a nursing home and it was our 23rd wedding anniversary, and he naturally obliged. “Done!” I said much to my mother’s shock/horror/delight.
Then we went back to the nursing home, me with my new bangle on, to show Anthony who thoroughly approved of it and my delight and gratitude. After that I went around showing all staff and residents many of whom came into Anthony’s room to congratulate us both and to admire the bangle. It was such a buzz and Ants was thrilled. (The fact that I will have to sell all the old bangles to pay for the new one is beside the point – ha!)
It isn’t very easy anymore to get that whole exciting buzz thing happening with Ants, despite the fact that his ability to smile has come back. But the adrenaline of a bit of frivolous over-spending was just the sparkle we both needed.
One of the most beautiful things about Anthony is the joy he gets out of giving me something. Ming, on the other hand, was thoroughly disapproving of such extravagance!
jmgoyder 
It is beautiful, Happy Anniversary!!!
Thank you!
Enjoy it – it’s gorgeous!
He has good taste!
Happy anniversary 🙂
Thank you Arlene!
Ahhh the young… he hasn’t yet developed the ‘romance’ of life.. Diane
Silly young fool ha!
Happy Anniversary – great to hear that Ants has got his smile back!
Very nice. Just make sure it is securely clasped in when you wear it and keep checking it. I see it has a safety chain as well. Your loupe will enable you to read the hallmarks.
In the UK all gold and silver has to have an assay mark from one of the offices in the UK (London, Birmingham, Sheffield and Edinburgh).
There was a jeweller in Battlefield Road in Glasgow who made jewellery but he has closed his shop and sells through different websites now. He was very good (Mithril Celtic Jewellers).
I am getting my loupe tomorrow – thanks Jane!
What a lovely story though your son has no romance in his soul.
Hopefully he will grow some romance soon – just need the right girl to come along.
I am glad that you are both happy with the bangle. Again, Happy Anniversary!
Very happy!
Happy Anniversary – it is a lovely bangle. 🙂
Thank you – another keeper of a memory.
someday ming will understand and remember these days with warmth in his heart. i am so happy you have had such a wonderful anniversary. our 20th is coming and we were together 3 yrs (living in sin). as with you and anthony i can’t imagine loving him more than i do at this moment. like anthony he seems to enjoy giving me jewelry, i have to balance between not wanting him to spend the money when i will not be here long to enjoy and he will need the money when that happens.
i admire the way you seem to balance it all my friend.
I love your romance Sandra xx
Gobsmacked was the actual emotion! Mama xx
🙂
Beautiful choice! Happy Anniversary 🙂
Thanks Val.
We shall see if Ming still disapproves if this sort of extravagance once he meets a special someone lol
My thoughts exactly!
That sounds fun. Very pretty bracelet. And I love that you call your husband Ants, it’s great!
I call him other things when he annoys me lol!
One day Ming will learn the value of the bangle is not in its silver or gold, but in how it wraps our wrists in love and makes our hearts smile. 🙂
Lovely story. Beautiful bangle. happy Anniversary!
Beautiful, Louise – thank you.
Happy Anniversary Ants and Julie! In so many ways, Ming is so much like his father. ❤
Diana xo
He is a clone!
LOVE! It’s perfect!! Happy Anniversary to you both and Diane is correct, Ming just isn’t ‘there’ yet…but with the right woman, one day, he will be. 🙂 xoxoxox
One would hope!
Happy Anniversary. That’s a beautiful bracelet. A beautiful sentiment of the love you share.
It’s a beauty isn’t it!
it is lovely and i’m glad you are back to your silver bangle tradition!
Me too!
Happy Anniversary! Wear your new bangle in good health and good spirits.
Thank you so much!
Oh, that Ming! 🙂
He can be very disapproving!
I have one son like that. Sigh. The other is not like that. Hurray.
Enjoy your gift to the fullest, Julie. You deserve it!
Thank you Jennifer.
Happy Anniversary-Bangle-Getting-Smile-Getting-Day! 🙂
It was a fantastic experience all around.
Well worth it.
Yes.
I like, very nice and well when you ask Ming to pay for it then he has a say in the cost…………
Ha!
Happy Anniversary and it is Gorgeous!
Thanks Laurie!
🙂
What a beautiful post and bangle, Julie!
I love your Anthony and your new bangle–it’s beautiful. It will be interesting to see what your Ming is like when he meets his special someone. Nate used to grumble if his brother even bought a girl flowers, but guess who LOVES to buy his Jessica special presents to surprise her?
It’s beautiful! I’m glad you were able to stir up some buzz and get a smile from Anthony. Happy anniversary!
What a beauty… I love it…
Happy Anniversary Julie & Anthony! That bangle is gorgeous, I’m happy you got it!
Thanks Tiny!
I will try to convince Kell that when I need a shot of adrenaline I need to overspend. Not sure he will buy it–literally!