I was not allowed to get my ears pierced until I was eleven. Eleven! The shame. It took an all-out campaign to get my dad to acquiesce. Even then, he wouldn’t take me. Having acquired permission, I had to talk a babysitter into it. Once pierced, I quickly accumulated a collection of crappy earrings. I loved them all and no morning was complete until I worked a pair until those elusive holes.
Every so often I will notice an adult woman who has never had her ears pierced. As important as it was to me as kid to have it done, now, I sort of admire the restraint it took to not mutilate ones ear lobes in order to wear Claire’s finery. Admiration aside, when I see such a stalwart, I wonder: “How did you make it through your adolescence that way? Did your parents just never give in? Did you ever try bargaining for it with a good report card?”
These days, and I am not sure when it happened, I don’t wear earrings very often. Usually, I forget to put them in. And, when I go looking to expand my now meager earrings collection, I come away disappointed. It all seems so done and predictable. Ultimately, I think earrings have a tall order to fill. They are, after all, next to one’s face. The can’t just be pretty objects in and of themselves — they have to be flattering.
But, I looked hard, dear readers, and I found signs of life. In particular, I found that Heidi Daus’ earrings have a great deal of life. She has a wonderful line jewelry that is all worth a comment. But, today is about earrings — so here we go.
Bread and Cake 