Jill's Journal: It's all about the bling

I love all things that sparkle: Twinkling lights, jewelry, the wintry landscape following a fresh snow, sun glistening on calm waters, and of course, all sorts of bling.

Hence, the headline.

When my friend, Trish, of 54 years and I exchanged Christmas gifts just a few weeks ago, I was excited for her to open the “BV Strong” sweatshirt I had plucked from the racks of the BV Booster Club holiday sales. And much to my delight, she was equally excited to receive it.

Her gift to me came in a smaller package this year. Whatever was inside was soft and pliable, and honestly, I had no inkling exactly what it could be. It turned out to three masks in a plastic bag. 

Masks … for a Christmas present, was the initial thought that swirled through my head.

Not to sound ungrateful, but after the year we’ve all been through, this was just a stark reminder of how the coronavirus has impacted us all. We’ve lost loved ones, friends, neighbors, co-workers and colleagues. Many infected by the virus have been violently ill, forcing families to separate from one another and daily lives to be placed on hold and businesses to close. Until Christmas, I hadn’t seen my mom in person for six months – the longest time in our lives that we haven’t been together in the same room at the same time.

Seems to be a lot of thoughts behind the gift of these three simple masks, doesn’t it?

It wasn’t until a few days later that I found the true joy of the gift of these masks. You see, all three – one in pink, one in purple and one in black – feature big-time bling. That’s right – sparkly, shiny, twinkling bling – all things I love.

Last week, I wore one of the masks to a follow-up appointment I had at the hospital. As I scooted past the information desk, a woman shouted to me, “I love your mask!”

“Thank you!” I happily answered back. A smile behind the mask ensued.

When I stepped up to the registration desk, the friendly gal behind that desk also complimented me on the bling on my face. “I just love your mask!” she said energetically.

Again, I obliged with a “thank you,” and my smile behind the mask grew even wider.

After waiting to see the doctor for a short time, I was told the emergency surgery case he’d been called into was going to take longer than anticipated, and could I possibly come back the next day.

I agreed, informing the friendly gal behind the desk that I’d be back tomorrow sporting more bling.

And that’s just what I did, exchanging the purple mask with bling for the pink mask with bling the next day, and as expected, the friendly gal behind the desk greeted me with yet another, “I just love your mask!”, which constituted a peek from the other friendly gal at the desk beside her.

As you can imagine, once again, I was smiling behind the bling.

On my way out of the hospital, a woman who was obviously waiting for someone in the lobby, acknowledged my mask with the – you probably guessed it – “I love your mask!” greeting.

“Thank you!” I answered once again, as my smile seemed to expand beyond the borders of my mask.

It was in that moment that what I may not have initially been so eager to receive as a gift, turned out to be one of the things I love most – a new sparkle for a new year.