The Irish Green Glass Egg

Through all the years of my adult life, in good times and bad, I've amazingly had one stalwart companion. If that companion were another person, that would be quite laudable since interpersonal relationships over time are so fragile, prone to a myriad of disasters. But this is just a knick knack really. Nothing more. The thing is, just like people, it's incredibly fragile. It's entirely made of glass.

I know I bought this before the end of high school, not sure when exactly but probably about 1980. I had a subscription to Smithsonian magazine and saw an ad for Cashs of Ireland. I filled out the catalog request in their ad, cut it out and mailed it to them. (That's how you ordered catalogs back then...before the internet.)

A week or so later, I got the catalog in the mail and browsed through it. Like today, they had high-end Waterford crystal, Wedgwood China and hand-blown glass ornaments and paperweights. I think the paperweight I bought had been featured because it was around March and they were comparing the "forty shades of green" in both Ireland in the Spring and in this paperweight. Not sure, but I think it was on sale because of the promotion though I definitely remember that the price was $20. Not horrifically expensive for a teenager but enough, especially as it was just a decorative item, to say...Can I afford this?

I sent in my money order for $20 and a couple of weeks later, my green glass egg was with me. And so it has been ever since.

I've moved countless times across thousands of miles since then and lost so much over the years but to think that this vulnerable and delicate thing has remained by my side unscathed is beyond comprehension.

It is now to me a solid, tangible and tactile symbol of endurance, perseverance, preservation and protection. I look upon it, caress its flawlessly smooth surface and assure myself that I will go on, and on, and on, as long as I can.