From a personal, history stand point: I was a child in the 1960s. We lived in 
the town right next to where LLL was founded, then in Chicago (only a few 
short miles away.) Then moved a to Berwyn, only a few suburbs away. 

My parents were not rich at all. We lived in apartments, then with my 
grandparents, and when I was six, we rented a house for eight years, before 
my parents finally bought a home when I was 13, (about 15-16 years after 
they married.) My father was struggling through Grad School and working, my 
mother alternated between being a full time homemaker to working part time 
when I entered 8th grade. We were, as I said NOT rich. We didn't own a car 
(part of the American Suburban Dream) until I was in Second Grade, had only 
one tiny TV, black and white, didn't get a color TV until I was 16 (in about 
1978, so my Dad could watch Carl Sagan's "Cosmos" in color. if I have the 
dates right.) We didn't have a clothes dryer, nor a dishwasher, and when I say 
we had a "car" it was ONE car, an American Motors Rambler, which my dad 
took to work. And to school at night. No car for mom, or even a Driver's 
License until we bought the house in 1975-76.

But, my mother did have a single string of pearls. She also had several pairs of 
gloves (as did I, for parties and Girl Scouts, and for Church, along with the 
little circle of lace to bobby pin to my head, which was required) My mother 
had few white pairs of gloves for "Every day wear" and a pair of black "Opera" 
gloves (over the elbow) although I do not ever remember her going to the 
Opera. When I was young, I remember her telling me, "A lady doesn't leave the 
house without gloves and a string of Pearls. Oh, and some face powder." She 
may not have had a car, or a dryer, or a color TV, or even a house to own, 
but she had Pearls. And she loved them. 

The string broke at a party once, and my mother in tears, my aunts and 
female cousins helped her round them up, put them into a bag, so she could 
take them to the Jeweler to "restring." 

Even in middle class American, in the mid 20th century, women liked 
something "nice,"  even if it was only ONE thing that was their OWN, to help 
them feel distinguished and pretty. I guess Pearls were it. 

I bought an inexpensive string for my own wedding. :) My husband bought me 
a string of cold water pearls several years later. Then a few years later, 
matching earrings, with a tiny, chip of diamond on each one. Not at all 
expensive. (I am NOT a jewelry wearer, I usually forget to put my wedding ring 
on....) Usually these sit in my seldom used jewelry box, next to locks of baby 
hair, my husband's High School ring, "in a safe place" so I won't lose them. 

I'm wearing mine now, For Edwina. (With a halter top, cut offs and 
Birkenstocks, today.)  :) I knew Edwina, when I worked the 800 Line at LLL 
International. I think Edwina would approve. 

The view from here.

Peace, 

Mary Jozwiak IBCLC, RLC, LLLL
Private Practice 

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