Currently, we are tootle-ing around French Polynesia. At the moment, we are anchored in a bay next to Moorea Island, which is known as one of the the most beautiful islands in the world. I would have to agree. This place is magical. So far, I’d say everything I’ve seen in French Polynesia is pretty other-wordly.

Yesterday, we were in Tahiti. After a number of days sailing across the Pacific, we were looking forward to being docked for awhile and checking out a new-to-us place. Out of the blue, the hubster said “I think you should get a pearl necklace.”

Say what? First, I’m not really a jewelry kind of person. I have my wedding rings that I wear all the time, my grandmother’s wedding ring that I wear all the time, and a silver necklace with a cross that I wear almost all the time. I also have a set of pearls that the hubs bought for me when he was in the Philippines about 25 years ago. I have a bracelet my bestie got me for a milestone birthday. And, that’s it.

Second, Tahitian pearls (the black pearl) are rare, which translates to expensive.

Third, I’m old and I live by the mantra “Collect memories; not things.”

But, still. “I think you should get a pearl necklace. They’re really cool.” So off we went. Shopping. Shopping in Tahiti no less! We are Amazon-shopping kind of people. We do anything to avoid actually going into a store. But, now, we were heading off the ship to go look for a necklace at one of the myriad pearl stores in Papeete.

And so we did. It didn’t take as long as I thought it might because I zeroed in on a beautiful necklace that was a unique, artistic piece of art, and, well, flat out beautiful. I went inside and tried it on. Perfect. Our ship friends walked by, saw us, and chimed in. Again, perfect. But, since it was our very first shop, we decided we should keep looking. A couple of stores later, we knew we weren’t going to find anything we liked better so we went back to the first store. I tired on the necklace again, Gary gave it a two thumbs up, and we bought it. Just like that.

Back on the ship, our friends asked if we had bought “the necklace” and were thrilled when we said yes. A couple of women nearby, overhead the conversation and soon weighed in with congratulations and genuine excitement that Gary had purchased this necklace for me.

I wore it to dinner where we dined on perfect fresh-caught Tahitian Wahoo. As we worked through the different dinner courses (golden pineapple with a balsamic reduction for an appetizer…I mean, c’mon!), I periodically touched my necklace, trying to think about why Gary wanted to me to get it. While drinking a favorite Chardonnay, the sun began to set, and the entire dining room seemed to pause and take in the grandeur of the display. It was like none of us had ever seen a sunset before. It was that spectacular.

After we finished dinner, we stopped by the table of a couple we always talk to on our way out. They noticed my necklace right away and asked about it. They both seem genuinely excited that I had gotten it. We chatted about the amazement of where we were and what we were witnessing.

And that’s when the thoughts all came together for me. We are in French Polynesia, enjoying some of the most breathtaking vistas we have ever seen. We are on a ship with some really great people who have become friends as we journey from one island to another. I’m with the person I have known and loved pretty much my entire life. I am on an adventure of a lifetime. When words fail, a necklace speaks volumes.