The Power of The Pearl IV.
I would like to welcome you back to of The Power of The Pearl. 
My Name is Bumby and this is The Preppy Chronicles.
This is the final chapter of what I thought was going to be a short, sweet and simple little post about WASPs, and their counterparts; the Preppies and about their confusing love affaire with the pearl. If you are new or need a refresher please follow the links back and then come back to read this.
The Power of the Pearl I
The Power of the Pearl II
The Power of the Pearl III
The Power of the Pearl III Second Half
I reprint this little poem to serve as an object lesson about the vast differences in the mind-set of a Northerner and a Southerner.
The Flag My Grandpa Knew
by Ronnie Hatfield:
I remember how, each morning, he’d rise before us all,
and I’d hear his muffled footsteps, as he padded down the hall.
The many years he’d labored, had left his body bend and gray,
but Grandpa had a reason, for getting up each day.
A well-worn box sat on a shelf, beside his rocking chair,
I don’t know where it came from, seems it always had been there.
Inside the box, a tattered cloth, of crimson, blue, and white,
and he’d gaze at it each morning, with tears that dimmed his sight.
On special days, he raised it still, on the pole outside our door,
and he’d tell us kids, in reverent tones what that tattered cloth stood for.
“The red reminds me of the Wheatfield, where Pickett’s men were slain,
when seven thousand good men fell, amidst the bloodied grain.”
“The blue, I guess, brings back to mind, the loneliness and cold,
of a Shenandoah winter, a thousand miles from home.”
“And the pure white stars, well they’re generals, for Jackson, Stuart, and Bee,
and that big one in the middle there, is for Robert Edward Lee!”
“Each bullet hole is a battle won, each tear is a comrade lost,
each stain is for a wounded friend, who paid the final cost.”
Ol’Grandpa must have loved that flag, he stayed near it every day,
and so Grandpa took it with him, when he finally passed away.
And if there’s a flagpole up in heaven, there’s no tear in Grandpa’s eye,
cause I know he’s back in uniform, and his beloved flag flies high!
copyright 1994, Stonewall Productions, and Ronnie Hatfield
Understanding this distinctive mind-set is in my opinion, essential to the overall understanding of Southerners and for the purpose of this treaties, Southern WASPs and Preppies. Although, all WASPs have the same basic DNA, as it were, there are vast and important characteristic distinctions between the Eastern WASP and the Southern. Just as there are two very distinctive types of pearls, one formed in harsh cold waters, the other in warm. Following this line of thinking, a cold water pearl is much more dense in its construct, the reflective layers are closer together not allowing the light to reflect as much as the warm water pearl.Thus, the Eastern WASP, is less flashy and showy than their southern counterparts.
Up till now, we have discussed a bit of the historical reasons about why WASPs and Preppies choose the pearl above all other gems. We have briefly touched upon the Physiological psychology aspects of the WASP and Preppy mind-set, Now we get to the very heart of the matter the emotional connections.
There is one human trait that trumps all others, that is: We all want to feel good about ourselves. All one needs to do to prove this is look inside. I will not presume to tell you why, you like or wear pearls, I only give my observations and I leave it up to you to decide if there be any truth in them.
It is universal that we tend to wear clothing and jewelry that we like and that we feel comfortable wearing and in our mind makes us feel more attractive.
No matter the audience that you think that you are dressing for, ultimately you will dress only for an audience of one… you. The very first step in this process is to feel comfortable with who you are. The stark reality is that until this takes place, it makes no difference what you wear you will never be able to command your audience. It is oft said that it is the clothes that make a man or woman. I totally disagree, I believe, that it is the man or women that makes the clothes. Physical beauty is just that, nothing more or nothing less. The man or woman who is comfortable with who they are, can wear a potato sack and still capture the complete attention of all in a room or on the street. However, it does not hurt if you are a looker.
We who are WASPs, are given instruction and told who we are, where or should, I say from whom we sprang and our place in society. This process begins long before we were ever born. Preppies have a more difficult time of it not being taught or told who they are. Preppies can only reflect the image of the WASP.
Now, there is no doubt, that what we chose to wear affects our moods. This one fact is the driving force of all fashion. Thus the saying : That it is the clothes that make a man or woman.
What we wear determines first impressions. Our tribal culture sets the standards of what dress is acceptable for first impressions as well as ongoing ones.
Although there are many variations on a theme, there are really only two main types of WASPs and Preppys. The Eastern and The Southern. I have not forgotten the ones that live in the West or Midwest, you would be considered to be part of the variation on a theme.
Now every tribe has their stories based upon their collective history. Nowhere is this more reflected than in the Southern & Eastern WASP. Portraits and photos of our long ago dead ancestors line our walls. The only real difference between the two are our reference points when we speak of ” The War ” , which we do often and with great passion.
One reflects upon the war of 1775-76, the other reflects upon the war of 1865. From those stories, come our First impression traditions.
For the man the pearl symbolizes power and ownership. For the woman it symbolizes love and perfection. Simply, the pearl can be worn with anything or with nothing.
In the south, pearls can be and are often worn when you work, when you play and at any time of the day. In the east there is a tradition, that pearls should only be worn at certain times and with certain garments, the clothes and the occasion will define the type and style of pearls to be worn.
Now, to the subject of sex. Speaking as a man, because the pearl symbolizes power and ownership, when a woman who is in the habit of always wearing them divests herself of them in his presence, we men understand that she is laying down her power and ownership out of love. It is very difficult to have an intimate conversation when one or both parties insists upon maintaining a position of power and ownership.
So to wrap this all up, throughout history both men and women have worn pearls. Pearls have always symbolized power, ownership, position , love and devotion.
Whatever your reasons for wearing pearls, as a modern women, you wear them because you like them and they are natures greatest accessory. My question to you is simple, What is the story of your pearls, is there any deeper meaning. Who or what do you associate with them, and how has the story affected your life ?
It has been my pleasure to bring you my thoughts and musings on this subject. Thank you for reading.
Always, Bumby
Please feel free to stop by my sister site:
The Preppy Chronicles Edition II volume VI
Bumby, what an extraordinary and fascinating insight! You are really causing me to think. I had never really considered the matter from this perspective before. Thank you.
Andrea, I am so pleased that I have been able to bring something delicious to the table.
Thank you for your insightful mannerisms. These truths were never articulated to me in my infantile years and I think that allows me to appreciate them that much more. A pearl is a true rarity and to me much more becoming and subdued than a diamond. I like it that way, it maintains it’s rather esoteric nature.
Keep up the superb scribblings!
@Raulston, I am glad that I was able to bring something to the table that you enjoyed.
Well done Bumby, very well said. There is such differences between WASPS from those two parts of the country, really, it is like two different tribes. I’d never heard anyone suggest a stone symbolizes power and ownership, and have no reason to disagree, it struck me as odd. Perhaps I am taking it too literally? But you are certainly dead-on when saying that “It is very difficult to have an intimate conversation when one or both parties insists upon maintaining a position of power and ownership.”
Your posts have been provocative, I have very much enjoyed them, and must say “thank you”. Selfishly I harbor a hope that perhaps you will undertake another multi-part topic at some point down the road.
Sending you a smile dear Bumby,
tp
@ tp. Wow. Thank you for extremely kind words.
It’s funny. Until recently I thought a prep is a prep is a prep… And then I entered the blogging world and learn that indeed there are two very different types. I’m a New England girl, though NYC born and raised. Traditional, classic, conservative would be adjectives to describe me in terms of manners, yet in terms of dress I like to break the rules somewhat. Nothing is better than pearls — and pile them all on — real and costume, large and small — with a clean, well fitting T-shirt and jeans… I make my own style. Create my own fashion rules. I guess this is my New York City meets Newport look. It’s me to a T. And to me the pearl is not at all about power. It is purely about beauty. Yes indeed, nature’s most beautiful accessory. Pearls over diamonds any day baby!
Loved this!!
@Jessica, I am so glad that I could bring something to this discussion. The distinction between the different types is something that is not well discussed, and often misunderstood.
Thank you for your kind words.