TREASURE HUNT

I have a short, double-strand choker of iridescent Austrian crystals, the kind that were so popular in the 1950s, and I wear it often.

I love the way the faceted beads sparkle and catch the light. They’re just a little bit different – not what you see on everyone – and that appeals to me, too.

I usually wear the necklace with another long strand of the same kind of crystal beads. I collected those beads at garage sales, rescued them from broken, chunky, 1950s necklaces and other estate sale finds, and strung them into a long necklace. I’ve worn both for years, regardless if it isn’t the “in thing.”

But now, as you may have noticed, beads are becoming very popular. Department stores display ropes and strands of all kinds: wood, glass, ceramic, stone and shell.

Suddenly, my crystal beads aren’t so “out there.” In fact, last week, at three separate locations, three different women commented on my necklaces.

First, while getting an afternoon cup of coffee at the downtown Starbucks, the 20-something who took my order handed me my change and then said, “I really like your necklaces. Where did you get them?” I told her the story of my beads, thanked her for saying she liked them, and then went back to work.

Later, standing at the cash register at Subway, getting a sandwich for my young daughter before our movie started, I noticed the woman who rang up my order was looking at me. She smiled and said, “I’m sorry, I was just looking at your beads. They’re beautiful.”

I thanked her and went on my way. (With a little spring in my step, I’ll admit.)

Finally, that evening while my daughter browsed at “Claire’s,” a jewelry boutique popular with girls her age, I noticed a string of beautiful amber glass beads. The long strand of beads was stunning, and looked a lot like the vintage glass beads that were so popular around the turn of the 20th Century. At just over $10, they were inexpensive, as well.

As I selected one of the glass necklaces, thinking it was too much of a bargain to resist, a salesperson came up to me and said, “I love your necklaces. Where did you get them?”

I don’t know about you, but I’m not used to that kind of attention. To receive three compliments from three complete strangers on the same day was like winning the lottery.

The phrase, “everything old is new again,” is a cliché. But, like so many clichés, it is rooted in truth.

My sparkly glass beads, which were once worn by a woman who would be old enough to be my mother, are old. And now they are new again.

Suddenly they’re catching the eye of young women around me, and I find jewels like them draped over the mannequins at department stores and boutiques everywhere. What was in style and went out of style, is in again.

I wore my crystal beads today, with several other favorite necklaces including the amber glass beads I bought at Claire’s, as I enjoyed a late lunch with a friend.

I couldn’t help but smile when our beautiful young waitress glanced at my necklaces and told me she liked them. She had a long rope of turquoise glass beads wrapped around her own neck.

I shared the story of my jewelry, and she told me, with obvious pride, that she had made the strand of beads she was wearing.

You know, in the eyes of the pretty young waitress, I probably look old. But wearing my beads, warmed by her compliment, I have to admit I felt new again.