Magically Delicious

Well, my lovely boss ladies toasted me with a wine and cheese reception late Tuesday afternoon. One of my co-workers noted, "the bar has been raised" on office functions: it was no dixie-cup affair. Lisa covered our conference table with a maroon floral cloth. She laid out Petit Basque and a variety of Cowgirl Creamery cheese on marble slabs. There were baskets of olive bread and crackers, a little mountain of salted nuts and bunches of cold autumn grapes, huge chocolate truffles. We sipped La Crema chardonnay. As a going-away gift, I received a wonderful chef coat. I'm a neophyte, but I can tell this is a special coat: white 100% cotton and already soft, with three-quarter length sleeves that won't require constant pushing up. "Chez J" is embroidered in brown script over the pocket, and Lisa pointed out the special symbols on the left sleeve cuff: yellow star, red heart, green clover, silver moon. I can't tell you exactly how she described these to the assembled group – we were both a little weepy – but she concluded by saying, "because you believe in Lucky Charms".

It's true. In times of stress, or when I need emotional reinforcement, or when I'm traveling away from home, I use special pieces of jewelry (thank you, David) as my armor. They are my talismans of protection. And they work. My particular favorite, a big silver necklace, incorporates strands of beads interspersed with faceted pieces of jade and small silver butterflies, and a tiny silver fish. The fish, in particular, has a lot of power. I'm sure of it.

And I've got a pink quartz marble that sits in a special spot on my desk at home. It rides with me in my pocket on really significant days. It's like one big worry bead, there when I need it. It's a reminder to be conscious, to breathe.

I'll be carrying it on Monday.