Life and death.

Those of you who know me personally know I've experienced a fair share of deaths close to me in my life, both murders and unexpected natural deaths. A friend here has just experienced a tragedy and it's brought some thoughts to mind about grief and consolation. I feel as though I've learned a little more about how to grieve and get on with life with every loss I experience. But, at the same time, I'm completely unable to offer that knowledge, wisdom, whatever it is to others in the throes of grief. I'm not sure what it is but when someone near to me experiences a loss, all I can think to say are cliche condolences, even if they are heartfelt. I remember being on the other end of those cliche condolences and feeling like telling the people giving them to me that they didn't really need to say those things. Kind of a "thanks, but you shouldn't have." But I still can't think of anything better to say. I feel like by now, I should be an expert at consoling people, but really I'm only able to cope with my own grief. It's not even that I feel like people necessarily need to hear some gem of wisdom on how to cope with their loss. I just have feelings of inadequacy when I'm unable to find words that are honestly comforting, like whatever I say won't be good enough. Then again, I guess it's not the words that matter at the time, it's just being there for someone, even if just to walk the dog or bring a hot meal. But when you're unable to physically be there for someone, you feel obligated to come up with something comforting, anything. I go back and forth in my mind between, "well, it doesn't matter, they know you care" and "what the hell, you've been through this, you should know how to help them." I guess I have to remember that everyone grieves in their own way and every loss is different. It may be that my words and thoughts are paralyzed because my insight is in how to deal with my own losses and may not possibly be of help to anyone else.

Anyway, know that I care and you're in my thoughts.

( Now on to my own mundane existence and whatever that entails )

Regulations in California on lead in jewelry

Mostly for my own reference (since I intend to sell jewelry online, I could potentially have customers in California and therefore would have to comply with this). I'm really not sure how much of it would apply to anything I typically work with (mostly sterling silver, gemstones, glass, wood, bone, shell, crystal, etc.), but it doesn't hurt to know regulations like this should I decide to branch out into other materials.

California laws regarding the sale of jewelry containing lead.

And a couple of other links on the subject:
CA.gov site with a FAQ
And the California State code on health and safety.