locket

My music teacher, Stacy Pendleton, gave me a tiny treasure at our lesson last week: a hummingbird feather! 

 

I’ve placed it next to a cherished book, for size comparison mostly, but by no means does this photo do it justice. The feather’s about an inch long, with gossamer fringe along its quill.

When I worried aloud that I might lose her special gift, Stacy suggested I keep it in a locket. I liked that idea right away. I could wear it while I’m writing–or whenever I need to bring heaven a little closer. With that in mind, my friend   and I poked around the antique shops in Orange yesterday afternoon. And voilá, look what I found!

A heart-shaped locket, engraved with two hummingbirds in flight! Coincidence, serendipity…or something else? I’ll let you be the judge of that.

Here’s the silver nest into which I placed the hummingbird feather. I bent it gently, so as not to break its fragile quill.

Perhaps the previous owner polished the locket, in hopes that might help attract a buyer. Which it did. I love it, and all it represents. But I think I’ll love it even more when the design is slightly tarnished…just enough to add a little character, y’know? Still, the thing that matters most is tucked inside the heart. We’ll let that be our little secret, shall we?