register |  login
› PARKER
Loading Ad
Visit Other Hubs:
ADVERTISEMENT
Loading Tower
RECENT STORIES

The Watch

Contributed by: Dave Schallert on 4/15/2008

On August 4th, 1977, my mother bought me a watch.

She took me into downtown Denver to Pace Jewelers which at that time was located on the ground level of the downtown Hilton hotel. She wanted to get me a high school graduation gift. A gift she said that would always remind me of how proud she was of me and how much she loved me.

The watch cost $250. Quite a sum of money for my Mom who had to go back to work at the age of 56 as a nurse on the night shift after her husband (my Dad) packed up and left us one day. Back to work for the first time since she'd been in the Army Nurse Corps stationed in Europe during World War II as a registered nurse tending to wounded Allied and German soldiers in hospitals and POW camps.

It was I remember one of the cheapest of the "good" watches in the shop. But it was a beauty...an all stainless steel chronograph. It was also a Rolex. Which meant nothing to me nor my Mom at the time. We just knew that the salesman had recommended it.

I wore that watch pretty steadily for about 20 years. However it was a sensitive thing and repairs and cleaning tended to cost several hundred dollars. So for about the last 10 years, it had mostly sat in my safe and I wore it very infrequently...but I usually remembered to wear it when I'd go to visit my Mom.

In the last few years, several of "life's curveballs" brought me to the point of having to consider selling the watch. My Mom had died in 2002, and the watch was in the safe...sitting there.

So it was with extreme surprise that I discovered after doing some research last autumn that the watch was very rare and highly sought after in the watch aftermarket. It turns out that because the watch was so "low end" for a Rolex (stainless instead of gold, water-resistant instead of water-proof, no day/date feature, etc.) and didn't sell well, very few of them were made.

Let's just say that since that day in 1977, the watch has appreciated in value...a lot.

So it is with mixed feelings that on April 24th 2008, my watch is being sold at auction in New York.

And once again, despite being gone now for almost 6 years, my Mom will again take my hand, tell me everything will be OK, and help me out of another difficult personal situation just like she did so many times during my 41 years of life with her.

Who knew on that day in 1977 how important that gift of love would be to me 31 years later?

Someone knew...and He isn't talking.

Thanks Mom. I love you.


SUBMIT COMMENT

Rate the above story



Current Rating
Based on 5 user ratings.

Talk Back : submit comments to the story

*Note: you need to log-in to add a comment or rating.

Showing 1-3 of 3 comments
Submitted By: Nikki Britain
posted on 4/18/2008 @ 6:09:31 AM
Rated Story
Funny, isn't it? How moms take care of us forever somehow. This is a lovely tribute. I'll look forward to reading more!
[Report as objectionable]
Submitted By: Michael Rule
posted on 4/17/2008 @ 8:20:30 AM
Rated Story
I still have my dad's watch...not a Rolex it's a Pulsar, and I keep it in my desk. Actually you just inspired me to pull it out and take a look at it. Good writing,Dave.
[Report as objectionable]
Submitted By: Joseph Kirchmer
posted on 4/15/2008 @ 1:18:34 PM
Rated Story
Nice story Dave! Very well-written. I'll be sure to 'watch' for more:)
[Report as objectionable]
Showing 1-3 of 3 comments
CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Dave Schallert

Parker , CO

Dave Schallert has posted 15 stories and 10 comments since joining on 7/12/2007. Dave Schallert 's average story rating is 4.5.
SAVE AND SHARE THIS STORY
STORY RSS FEEDS
WANT TO WRITE FOR YOURHUB.COM?
Want to see the stories you write and the photos you shoot featured in the YourHub.com Thursday print section available all over the Front Range and with home subscriptions of the Rocky Mountain News and The Denver Post? All you have to do is register, then post a story or column, start a blog or tell everyone what events are happening in town. We will print the best stories, columns, event listings, photos and blog entries in our print sections.

ADVERTISEMENT
Loading Ad

Loading Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Loading Ad

This YourHub.com community is produced by The Denver Newspaper Agency
Web Development and Channel Analytics provided by Indigio

terms of use //  privacy policy
the staff //  advertise //  help & faq
buy photos