The PRIZE from the e-bay bidding war!
Blowfish's grandaughter is graduating from high school next month. She is a lovely young woman.She rides horses, plays the harp, works hard for everything she earns and is a person of grace.
Blowfish has begun thinking about a graduation gift. So far he has not settled on any one thing. I mentioned to him I still had my high school graduation present from my grandfather, it's a string of pearls. I also shared I have never once placed those pearls around my neck without thinking of my grandfather.
[ I did have an unusual grandfather who taught me fine life skills like yo-yo-ing, jacks and knife throwing. If you do not know, yo-yo's were originally weapons, not toys. Getting good at jacks created a fine level of eye hand co-ordination I still appreciate. He taught our Mom and, we grandkids, the fine art of speaking "dog". That is a treasured gift too. He also taught me how to take bows off packages and place them on my head or around my neck with the admonishment to recognize "I am a gift!" and to respect the importance of lifes celebrations. A fine legacy to be sure. Along with the pearls.]
Blowfish would like to think it is possible with the current generation to also select a present which would last a lifetime. He is not sure others are like me and will , this many decades after high school, still possess and treasure a grandfather's gift.
So, do any of you still possess high school graduation presents? If so what is the gift and why did you keep it? Because of the gift itself? Because of the giver? Both? Please share!
I am buying this lovely young woman a couple of gifts.
First I am getting a 1930 Irish Half Crown coin. Strange, I know. But one of Blowfishs grandmothers was a Trainor from County Cork Ireland so there is the heritage connection. That's a good reason but the real reason is this particular coin has a hunter (horse) on one side and a harp on the other.
How perfect is that?
I am also giving this Catholic High School graduate a silver coin pendant of St. James on horseback and a book on Saint James. Actually, St. James is most often depicted with a pilgrims walking stick as he is also the Patron Saint of Spain , is much consulted, and lies in Campostello where he is visited regularly. It can be very challenging to find a St. James on horseback, but I have located one. Not exactly the quality or size I was hoping for but it will be just fine. Since life is a personal pilgrimage, which often starts when young people leave home for the first time, I thought this an appropriate time for such a gift. This young woman, like most of us will face her fair share of adversities so if she partners with St. James along her journey I trust she will be finely lead.
I suspect her mother will scorn my selections.
She is more attuned to show than am I .
But she is not the graduate.
Blowfish on the other hand would like to select a gift the graduate will appreciate for years to come. A gift his incredibly materialistic daughter will give the nod to. And, a gift his ex will not find necessary to critique.
( Yes! I am very glad I will not be attending this graduation. )
So my fellow bloggers, PLEASE help Blowfish by offering suggestions.
Thanks much.
