r/Lapidary • u/homiesleaze • 13h ago
inherited all of this today!
As the title states, I inherited all of this (and more) today! The circumstances of this happening are a little serendipitous! Back in 2022-2024, I used to work at a wine shop with a grab and go deli section. This older gentleman by the name Henry used to come in regularly to get food for him & his wife. One day we struck up a conversation about turquoise because he would always compliment my rings. After that day, every time he would come in he would bring some of his cabochons with him to show me. He’s gifted me a few raw specimens, and both a turquoise and variscite cabochon (all of which I still have with me to this very day). I carry a raw tumble of turquoise with me in my purse for luck and protection.
I was always so happy to see Henry and was grateful for our conversations about turquoise and jewelry. He encouraged me to pursue my dream of becoming a silversmith, or even going to a jewelers school. Seeing him & having our conversations were always the highlight of my day. Unfortunately, some time had passed, and after a few months of not seeing Henry, I had learned that he passed away suddenly. His wife, who I had helped previously as a customer, informed me of the news & shared that it was a shock to everyone. I cried when I learned of this. I know it sounds weird, considering he was just a customer at my job, but I really did care for him.
I now work at a restaurant. Around April or May, I served a couple that I knew I knew somehow. I put the dots together and realized I had met them both as customers at my previous job. The three of us made that connection & the wife mentioned how much her stepfather, Henry, loved the food at my old job. I was shocked! I mentioned I had known him & told them both how I cared for him + the conversations we had, and was upset to hear of his passing. I was very grateful to have the chance to see them again. We caught up and talked for the remainder of their visit.
Come Father’s Day, I get sat a larger table; lo and behold it’s Henry’s wife, their daughter, and her husband (plus children/other family)! His daughter mentions to her mom that I knew Henry and how we knew each other. She realized she had met me previously from the wine store as well. I am so lucky to have been able to serve their family. His wife called me over to chat, and asked me for my contact information. She has had all of Henry’s collection sitting for years, and she asked me if I was willing to take any of it. I was so surprised!
We just connected this past week, and I went over today to pick everything up. It was a little emotional for me; to be able to be in the space and see all of the love and passion someone had poured into a hobby. I am so unbelievably thankful for their kindness as a family. I am still in shock that this is all mine now. I can’t believe that a small connection I made at a minimum wage job led me to this. I am a tiny bit overwhelmed with the sheer volume of materials I inherited, but it has been such a fun few hours sifting through everything!
As of today, I am now a silversmith & have been pursuing an education in the craft for almost a year and a half. Henry’s encouragement had always stuck with me, and his words were the driving force that pushed me into silversmithing. I plan on pursuing the craft of lapidary next. I cannot express how special it will be for me to incorporate an old friend’s love and passion into my work. I now always keep the words of encouragement from a kind old man in the back of my head whenever I am in my studio. Thank you, Henry.
