When Tom and I first married and moved to Houston, not making much money and buried in student loan debt, I was walking through the/a mall one day and spied this brass necklace–a different kind of charm necklace, I guess–and I wanted it. I was deeply into writing a novel about a musician and constantly surrounded myself with totems to create a writing mood.
The necklace didn’t even cost very much–maybe forty dollars?–but I put it on layaway to be able to buy it. That’s how little disposable income we had. I threw a few dollars at it when I could until it was mine.
Later, different times and places, I found the grand piano brass pin that was a good match for the necklace. And on a different occasion, a pair of grand piano earrings.
We met Tom’s family in Destin, I think, for vacation sometime during that era, and my friend Riley happened to be living in Florida then, so I got to spend some time with him. He loved this whole little jewelry ensemble–of course! he was a musician and songwriter who payed piano, guitar, drums–and when we said goodbye, he asked if he could have one of the earrings. I gave it to him immediately, maybe our own version of the best friend charm, split into two, which each friend wears on a bracelet until they are reunited.
Who knows whatever happened to his earring. I’d give damn near everything I own to bring him back.
I believe that one day, I’ll be able to write the novel in my head that’s meant to honor the profound friendship we had. Last month marked eleven years since he slipped from my life and out of this world, and I miss him every single day.