From the age of six months old, Tusia wore amber necklaces around her neck at all times. As time went on, she never took them off and instead added more to her pile. FOR TEN YEARS, she wore 3 amber necklaces and only took them off once (for a ballet recital when she was in Kindergarten). They were a part of her body, her vibe, her look. And yet, this summer, she told me she no longer wanted to wear them. It broke my heart and I told her she had to…..(to which I was told that I was not “pro choice” if I controlled some one else’s body….) so I realized that it was in fact her choice, and I could no longer control her necklace situation. Because they were such a huge part of her life (and mine), I decided to put them in a shadow box, frame them like art, so that we could always have them to look at.
Tusia this summer with her necklaces.
As a little girl.
Getting bigger and still with her amber necklaces.
Tusia’s vibe.
The shadowbox with her necklaces.
I love it — it makes me so happy to look at.
With trial and error, I figured out how to place the necklaces, and I sewed them on to the canvas).
Placed on her shelf.
Who knows how long she will want the framed necklace in her room, but I always want to have it somewhere in our house — it is bittersweet to look at. Tusia is growing up, but I still want to have this part of her remembered.
