Summary

The website content recounts the author's experience of gifting a "lover's eye" necklace to his girlfriend, inspired by a historical tradition, and the unexpected turn during their birthday dinner when her prosthetic eye accidentally falls into her soup.

Abstract

The narrative describes a romantic gesture by the author, who, after learning about the lover's eye tradition from Georgian times, decides to purchase a similar piece of jewelry for his girlfriend's birthday. The lover's eye, a token of affection and anonymity, was popularized by the Prince of Wales. The author's story unfolds in Philadelphia, where he stumbles upon a local artisan selling lover's eye jewelry and decides to buy a necklace for his girlfriend, Judy. Despite the initial enchantment with the gift, the birthday dinner takes a comical turn when Judy's prosthetic eye inadvertently dislodges into her French onion soup. The incident is resolved with humor and a touch of resourcefulness, ultimately strengthening their bond.

Opinions

The author views the lover's eye as a deeply romantic and symbolic gift, harking back to a time when such tokens were exchanged between lovers, including those in the LGBTQ+ community.
The artisan's story about the lover's eye is described as "compelling," suggesting the author's appreciation for history and craftsmanship.
The author seems to believe that the right gift can significantly impact a relationship, emphasizing his desire to find the "PERFECT gift."
Judy's reaction to the necklace and the subsequent mishap at the restaurant indicate a shared sense of humor and adaptability in their relationship.
Despite the mishap, the author considers the gift and the experience a success, feeling like a "hero" and believing it brought them closer together.

My Lover’s Eye

Across the table sat my girlfriend. She was missing her eye.

Since the beginning of time lover’s have created ways in which they express their affection for each other through symbolic gifts.

We’re all familiar with engagement and wedding rings.

How many of us know of the lover’s eye?

The origin of the lover’s eye dates back more than 230 years ago to Georgian times in England. King George III’s son, the Prince of Wales, fell in love with the twice widowed Miria Fitzerbert. In addition to worshipping outside of the Church of England Maria was a commoner and was 6 years his senior.

Not deterred by his father’s opposition to the Prince’s liaison with Maria, the Prince of Wales sent Maria a marriage proposal in 1785. The invitation to marry was accompanied by a miniature watercolor-on-ivory portrait of one of the Prince’s blue eyes he had commissioned.

This romantic gift affirmed the Prince’s ardor while maintaining his anonymity.

Soon Maria returned the favor by gifting the Prince a portrait miniature of her eye.

Both wore each other’s eyes as brooches.

This interesting gesture of love became quite the fashion in the 18th century. Soon it was shared by clandestine lovers, whether heterosexually married to another or partnered in what is now called the LGBTQ+ community. The fashion spread all over Europe, Russia and America.

How romantic is that?

My Story:

After recovering from one acrimonious divorce only to endure another 20 some years later, I was tentatively “dipping a hammer toe in the relationship waters.”

I met Judy through Our Time.com and things had been going well for the past few months.

Next week was her birthday and I didn’t want to mess up. I needed an appropriate gift at this initial stage of our relationship.

No, I wanted the PERFECT gift.

Aimlessly meandering down Walnut St in Philadelphia, looking at high end women’s clothing store windows, my attention was diverted by a woman who was selling her crafts on a card table at 18th and Walnut.

I stopped and listened as she was explaining the history of the lover’s eye to a prospective customer. I found it — compelling.

Returning to my condo I Googled lover’s eye and found the woman’s story to be true.

WOW! Hope she’s there tomorrow.

The rest of the story:

After a brief negotiation, I went with the jewelry maker’s suggestion of a “sterling” (her claim, not mine) silver neckless.

None too soon, Judy’s birthday was the following day.

Before I presented the neckless to her, I recited the whole history of the lover’s eye.

I don’t think it was my imagination but thought I saw HER eyes shining as she opened my gift and saw the neckless.

My feeling was confirmed when we met at the fanciest French restaurant in Center City the next evening for her birthday dinner.

She was wearing her new lover’s eye neckless, she positively glowed.

Brian, you devil you!

We ordered: her, salmon en papillote — me, boeuf bourguignon: onion soup to start — a favorite for both of us.

While waiting for our soup, we made romantic birthday talk; Judy’s delight with her lover’s eye apparent along with a promise to reciprocate with an eye of her own for my birthday in a month.

Bliss.

The soup was serve. It was steaming hot with gobs of cheese floating on heavenly smelling broth with a perfect blend of thinly sliced carmelized yellow onions and chrusty croutons.

No sooner had the tuxedoed French accented waiter presented our soup I thought I saw something fall into Judy’s crock.

Nah! Couldn’t be what it appeared.

It wasn’t on the first spoonful of the rich gooey Gruyere cheese crowning the epicurean delight of distinctive French onion soup.

It was on the second.

Judy:

1 Appeared to wizzen facially.

2 Place her hand on her throat.

3 Gagging, expel something into her fine linen napkin

I washed the eye ball off in my water glass and asked the waiter for another water.

Carefully placing the eyeball in my suit jacket pocket we finished our meal and continued to enjoy life.

I think I came off the hero to Judy.

The next day, she glued the eyeball back in its setting with Gorilla Glue.

I can’t recall her wearing the neckless again.

She gave me a pair of green Eagles pajamas for my birthday and not a lover’s eye.

I think the whole thing brought us closer together.

This post was self-published 4/27/22