A Tiara Kind of Year
A very simple crown, sort of a fancy headband ornamented with jewels, is called a tiara. Your little sister might wear a tiara on her birthday — or just for fun. The words tiara and diadem are used interchangeably for decorative crowns that have historically been worn by high-status people. The word tiara comes from a Persian root, and was originally used specifically to mean "headdress of Persian kings." Today you're most likely to spot tiaras gracing the heads of cartoon princesses like Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. - Vocabulary.com
As a kid, my most memorable toys included a train set, a tool kit, and books. My family didn’t have any prince or princess culture for little children, and I didn’t grow up with Disney princess movies. Yet years later, this year, surprisingly, I was crowned with a tiara—twice.
When I turned half-century old, my friends threw me a surprise party. My girlfriends didn’t let this milestone go unnoticed or uncelebrated. They made a big deal with all my favorites: homemade dal, lamb chops, Japanese strawberry shortcake, and a generous spa pass. As I stood in my friend’s living room soaking up all the love, looking at a room full of smiling faces, colorful balloons, and a table topped with delicious food and sparking stars, one of my girlfriends carefully placed a tiara on my head, and I felt so loved.
At a work dinner, I was surprised again by my colleagues who raised the glass to toast me a wonderful farewell and the start of a new chapter in my life. Steph took out a tiara she had been hiding from me, and Heidi measurly put it on my head. Surprised, I hug them tight. I wished I weren’t leaving them. I ate the rest of dinner and chatted with everyone with a tiara. I felt so loved again. I’m sure some of my coworkers will become lifelong friends no matter where I go next.
Tiaras used to be reserved for girls and women of the upper class to showcase wealth and power. Some say only married women could wear them.
I’m not any of these.
But in this century, anyone, including me, can be crowned with a tiara.
To me, a tiara symbolizes decadence, elegance, and abundance. I imagine being a princess in a royal family living in a castle in the 18th century. Life is grand, food is exotic, and many servants roam around. Traveling to distant towns in a carriage is an adventure. Listening to the symphony and watching the theater is a precious privilege. It’s being on top of a country.
My friends made me a princess and celebrated “me” with me as if they were giving me their best wishes: We are like your family and love you. We hope you’ll be happy and have the best life. May all your wishes come true, and live like you're on top of the world.
I’m grateful I was a princess for a party and a meal. It’s unlikely I’ll wear a tiara again—twice this year (and in a lifetime) is already fabulous and record-breaking, but I feel like I’m a princess in many ways every day because of what I have in life.
May we all be princes and princesses in our ways, without the royal drama, with or without tiaras.
May you and your life continue to sparkle!