Diamonds

Loose stones. They can be a pricey venture... but so worth it! I choose to see my stones as an investment. Although when I look at them my mouth cant help but water. And why not? They are bright and sparkling... reminding me nearly of candy or juice.

Whenever I think of the holocost, I always remember one story I heard about a woman who swallowed her family's heirloom diamonds. She would swallow them quickly, and whenever she had to use the restroom.... she would painstakingly comb though her waste to find them again. Then, she would repeat the process.

here in an excerpt from this website:
http://www.jewishmag.com/104mag/witness/witness.htm

Irene reinforced the importance of family ties. At the age of thirteen, Irene was orphaned upon arrival at a concentration camp when her parents were immediately herded into the gas showers. She was also separated from her siblings, all of whom were eventually murdered. Narrowly avoiding a similar fate because the chamber was over-packed, Irene was left alone to fend for herself. The only remaining tangible connection to her loved ones was four diamonds her mother had given her. Despite certain death if caught with such valuables, Irene defiantly insisted on preserving the memento of her family.
Irene's mother had beseeched her to use the diamonds to feed herself. Instead, Irene used the diamonds to feed her soul, nourishing her wounded spirit. For the remainder of her years incarcerated, Irene continually swallowed the stones. Secretly slipping away to the waste holes, she would claw and pick through her own waste to recover the diamonds. In a world where love suddenly evaporated, Irene clung onto her family through this pathetic, brave cycle until liberation.
Today, Irene—mother and grandmother—wears her mother's diamonds on a pendant that hangs from her neck. Resting by her heart, the four diamonds are set in the shape of a teardrop to symbolize the sadness and anguish evoked by the memory of her family's cruel demise. Imagining Irene's unimaginable aloneness at such a young age augments my appreciation for being surrounded by a loving family. As a witness to this witness, I will retell Irene's horrors so people will understand that when hatred goes unchecked, the result leaves children without families—in total desolation.

I can imagine swallowing stones like Irene, pregnant with the knowledge that I would have hard, bright contents of the earth inside of me.

Another story I'm sure some people are familiar with is the story of the good sister and the bad sister who meet a woman in the woods. The good sister is kind and helpful, the bad sister is horrid and mean. For reward and punishment, the old lady, who is actually a witch, causes flowers and gemstones to emerge from the good girl's mouth every time she talks. From the bad girl's mouth comes reptiles and insects.

Which sister would you rather be? I've read stories that have taken on both sides. But I, for one, would rather be the girl who spat out stones and flowers. Even if it ment I would have to stop talking so much! I could imagine myself reading the dictionary from a to z and seeing what would emerge from my mouth.

However, that can never be. Like everyone else, I have to buy my stones.