Diamond!

“Have you been there?” I was asked because of my Tshirt. Well, I must say I have been to the amazing Capital of the United States of America, Washington, DC. Years ago, though, my friends! When I was young– that was one of the many places my parents brought my family to on vacation.

I remember mainly the Smithsonian. I could have spent weeks in there. There was one thing that I recall wanting to see more than anything, and it was the Hope DIAMOND! There was so much hype, and I couldn’t fathom something that was worth millions and millions of dollars. As a very young pre-teen, I didn’t take the time to read all of the writing on the plaques around it, and just frankly wanted the glory of saying, I “saw something worth millions!”

As I recall, there was a line leading to the room where this famous DIAMOND was. Once I entered the room, there were two guards who were still, yet very engaged with their surroundings. I tried peeking around people in front of me, and watched reactions on people’s faces as they walked away. I felt my adrenalin flow, and I was beyond excited as I walked up to its display. This was the moment when this small town Iowan would be in the presence of millions of dollars.

“But wait”, I thought, as I approached the case. “I don’t feel any different!” The value had to have been obtained through sight, so I opened my eyes, expecting to be blinded by this DIAMOND. “Nope!” I didn’t even have to squint. “Hmmm…” was what I heard in my head because I couldn’t say much else.

I stood there as I looked upon this rock that seemed like it was something I could have found while out playing. The DIAMOND had been taken out of its necklace setting and was displayed up higher on a pedestal in its case. Now that caught my eye. I wondered why they would separate them, because the DIAMOND without it’s chain was useless. I thought, “The whole point of jewelry is to wear it!”

I wasn’t a stupid kid, and knew that DIAMONDS are rare and they took millions of years to form. I was also told that they are a precious commodity and saw that they were symbolic in a lady’s wedding ring. I took one last look at the Hope DIAMOND, and moved on. I was much more impressed and captivated with the soldiers who guarded “The Tomb of the Unknown.”

DIAMONDS are a “lady’s best friend.” Wow? How can this be true, if we are like a rock that you find when you are out playing. Gems are everywhere, so how can such a sexist and condescending statement hold true?Some are covered with dirt, rugged, sharp, dull, soft, hard, of all colors, small, big, shiny, buried or in plain sight! And who is placing the value of this Gem that is so PRICELESS? But in thinking about this, there is a truth behind it! For some women literally, but for all of us it’s real. How?

We are all DIAMONDS! We have been of this Earth and are of this Earth. We are formed under pressure with heat. (On so many levels!) Our ultimate best friend, like it or not, is the one we spend the most time with. We spend every miraculous moment with ourselves. Do you like your bestfriend? There are so many things that can be reflected on when we see ourselves as a gemologist. (For example, origin, history, setting, cut, clarity, preservation, faucets, value, etc.)….

Before I started blogging today, I looked up the Hope DIAMOND and discovered so many amazing things about it. Her history is one to behold– full of myth, scandal, theft, modifications, love, family, royalty, persecution, rumors, smuggling, deceit and perseverance.

The Hope DIAMOND underwent so many transformations, and is much smaller in size now. The gem was guarded and regarded fiercely as she was sold or traded from one owner to the next. The stigma and status and news feeds are priceless. She was sent First Class mail (USPS) to end up in the Smithsonian in a brown package. I learned that since I had been there, it has been scientifically confirmed that she is part of Marie Antoinette’s legacy– part of a revolution!

Now when I go back to see this DIAMOND–it will be under a different light! The Hope DIAMOND’s name is right on. For today, let’s be mindful of the DIAMOND in us and others. I welcome your comments! What kind of DIAMOND are you?