By Neena Strichart
During my more than 50 years, I have participated in and witnessed a host of fashion trends and fads. Most of my female contemporaries remember donning mini skirts, shag haircuts, mood rings and Nehru jackets. Looking back, I giggle at some of those short-lived styles. What the heck were we thinking with those skyscraper platform shoes strapped to our feet? I’m lucky I didn’t break an ankle!
Growing up, I watched Mom wear her share of trendy clothes, make-up and accessories. Her blue eye shadow and red lipstick fascinated me. I loved watching her apply those cosmetics. She powdered and painted her fair face with the perfection of a fine artist. On the weekends she’d let me play “dress up” and was so sweet to let me use a touch of shadow and lipstick— but never in public.
Daddy loved helping Mom stay fashionable. Although we didn’t have much money, at holidays and for birthdays Dad always made sure we bought Mom costume jewelry to help accent her outfits. Our favorite purchases were the additions we made to her ever-growing charm bracelet. We’d concoct some story about having to run errands and Dad would drive me out to the Broadway Department store (the current location of Sears on Bellflower Boulevard in the Los Altos Shopping Center) to carefully choose the newest charm. There was the tiny bejeweled telephone, the praying hands and the little wishing well along with an airplane, baby shoes and nearly a dozen other gold-toned treasures.
Mom always acted so surprised when she opened each little ribbon-wrapped box. Month after month, year after year, we added to the bracelet until nearly every link sported a charm. I’m sure Mom found it heavy and noisy, but also a constant reminder of how much we loved her.
That bracelet is in my jewelry box now, and I do wear it on rare occasion. Seeing it reminds me of simpler times and simple pleasures and how those little charms made us all so happy. Daddy and I loved giving them, and Mom loved receiving them. I wish you all such simple pleasures during this happy holiday season.
