BRACELETS WITH AN S

We went to the Haywood County Pride Day celebration where it was wonderful to see all the people In Waynesville, North Carolina who turned out to celebrate diversity. We waved our rainbow flags at all the people walking or parading in their cars… proud to help them celebrate exactly who they are. When the Pride Parade was over we visited many Pride booths .. where we happened to meet a little girl In a make-shift booth- a blanket she had spread out on the street. Her booth was next to her father’s booth…where her dad let it be known that on this Pride day he was proud she was starting a business of her own. What caught my attention was her sign…she was selling bracelets and she spelled bracelets with an ’s' Her price…a reasonable $2.00… and she made it clear she would take nothing less… We arrived at her booth early where she was completing her first bracelet of the day I was proud to be her first customer…and when it came time to pay. she handed me the bracelet…I handed her a five dollar bill… and for her first entrepreneurial exchange… I was happy with my purchase and she was happy when I told her, “keep the change”. Her bracelet is now hanging form the rear-view mirror in our car to remind us to take pride everyday…in exactly who we are. To remind us every human life is a life we should hold dear. To remind us everyone deserves a life free from prejudice and fear… And to remind us how our children need to grow up filled with pride and happiness…. Who knew all this joy and wisdom could be found in one little bracelet … that’s bracelet with an ’s’. As I walked away with the bracelet in my hand…and thinking what it meant… I realized that may be the best $5.00 I have ever spent.