The "Oh My God! There's Teeth In Here!!" Story

It was an ordinary day. Carol and I just saw on TV that gold was selling for over $1,700 an ounce. That's correct, AN OUNCE! She said we should look through our jewelry and see if we have anything gold that we don't want anymore so we can sell it. The only thinggold I have is my wedding ring, and I suspect she wouldn't be in favor of me selling it. Then, she looked at me and said we should find my mother's old jewelry box and check and see if she had anything of any value. Mom could certainly use some extra monetary help with her monthly payments at the retirement home where she is a resident. Found the big, white box in the basement amongst the suitcases of clothes and boxes of memorabilia. Sat it in front of Carol and told here to look through it to see what might have some value. Was sitting next to her when she held up a gold ring that had a US Army emblem on it. Dad's Army ring that had mom and dad's wedding date engraved in the inside of the band. Can't sell that we agreed. Gonna give it to our youngest son, Paul T. (Tad), who will cherish it and who shares my dad's name. I have documented in past blog stories about our son having his entire left inside forearm tattooed with his grandfather's image in his Army uniform and with his birth and death dates. Also found a gold wrist bracelet with dad's name and his Army serial number on it. That will go to Tad, also. Found a pin that was my grandfather's 35 year service pin when he worked for Armstrong Industries. Nah, can't get rid of that. Found a Red Cross Volunteer pin from mom, but figured they couldn't afford to give anything that was pure gold as a gift. Then she pulled out a peanut pin with a black top hat on it and a red ribbon around the middle. Oh yeah, I remember making that in elementary school back in the 50s. Wow, only a mother could ever where something like that. Then she pulled a very small envelope out and opened it. Looked in it and screamed, "Oh my God! There's teeth in here! How Gross!! Turned it over and it read "Larry and Steve's baby teeth." Handed it to me as if it were poison. I opened it and looked inside. Yep, plenty of teeth. Belonged to me and my brother. Often wonderedwhat the tooth fairy did with my baby teeth when I put them under the pillow. Now I know. Then she pulls out another matching envelope, looks inside, and holds it out to me. "A molar," she said. "And it didn't come from a child." Must have been one of dad's or mom's teeth. I don't think I will question mom about it, though. After venturing into the drawers of the jewelry case, we found maybe one or two items that might have some value, but not worth the bother to spend time taking it to a jeweler. I guess the big find of the day was the teeth! How Gross!! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.