I discovered at an early age how much women love diamonds and gold. The first piece of jewelry I ever bought for a female was a promise ring. The dia­mond was so tiny you could hardly even see it or tell it was there. Nonetheless, my 9th grade girlfriend adored it and promptly gave me a kiss. My first wife loved jewelry. But she didn’t get any diamonds and gold. A Choctaw Indian, I bought her rings, bracelets and necklaces made of sterling silver and turquoise. It wasn’t that I didn’t love her. At the time, I just couldn’t afford the good stuff being diamonds and gold. And even if I had been able to afford it, she probably would have got mad at me and hocked it or threw it in my face. All the fine diamonds at Tiffany’s couldn’t please that woman. (See previous blog “The Wrath ofPocahontas”) The Wrath Of Pocahontas

My girlfriend Tina liked diamonds and gold. I bought her some pretty nice rings back in 1983. Blonde and blue, she looked stunning wearing all her expen­sive jewelry. The first one carat cluster I ever bought a woman I bought for Tina. Young at the time, I bought it at Service Merchandise instead of Zales or Kay Jewelers. When Tina ran off with my best friend, she took the ring with her. I sure miss my friend. Just kidding! But she did leave me for another man. Think he bought her any rings? I seriously doubt it. Then there was my girl­friend of 1984. She too got diamonds and gold, but after three years(yes 3) pleasuring her and not getting any pussy? I still had to go. (See previous blog “How ‘Bout a Blowjob”)

How About A Blow Job Yes, there’s been lots of women in my life. And they all got their fair share of jewelry.

My third wife Melinda Ann? Now there was a girl who was spoiled rotten with diamonds and gold. She had rings on every finger, bracelets, necklaces and a gold Seiko watch to boot. There are pictures of her in “Tattoos For Women 21″. You see, she not only got diamonds and gold. She got five grand’s worth of profession­ally done tattoos too. When buying Melinda Ann jewelry, I chose a lot of Black Hill’s gold. I even updated her stuff. When I bought something bigger and better, her old diamonds and gold either got traded in on the purchase or placed in a scrap bag for melting or trading later on. This girl was decked out ladies! I enjoyed buying for her mainly because she was appreciative. Plus, I was high rolling at the time and had all the money in the world. You should have seen the cute little look she got on her face and the way she crinkled her nose. She loved it when I bought her diamonds and gold. And she loved old Tripper as well.

I remember the first one carat solitaire I ever purchased. It was a marquis cut. The guy at Andy’s Gun and Pawn beat me out of that one. Then there were the begets and pear shaped diamonds I’d bought and traded for. And the many rings made out of 18 and 24 karat gold. For a while there, I was dismantling stolen rings placing each individual diamond in small ziplock bags according to weight. Taking my melted down gold, I had custom rings and bracelets made for my girl­friends. All of which they thoroughly enjoyed. And how about this? Anyone ever heard of a mossenite? A mossenite looks like a diamond, will pass for a diamond and even test positive as a diamond on a jewelry store grade diamond tester. But they’re fake! Beware of ads in the newspaper that say, “One carat solitaire $800″. Noting that they never said “diamond” at all. Been there/done that. Lesson learned. Just so you know, you can’t always trust a diamond tester.

The guy who snitched me out on this bit? (See previous blog “The Rat”)THE RAT He use to bring me lots of diamonds and gold. Traded jewelry to me for speed all the time. Sometimes deals a man just couldn’t turn down. My lady friend Jo-Ann told me not to trust Tonmy. Said she felt he was no fucking good. Ignoring her woman’s intuition, I dealt with him anyway. And here I sit today. Doing an ass-load of time because I was greedy and wouldn’t listen when I should have. I got a diamond tennis bracelet from another rat. Twenty-two quarter carat stones set in 14 karat gold. Jackie Butler the stripper got that one. Along with a couple of grams of snow. Of course she was worth it. In reality, she was literally worth her weight in gold. A fun little chick. The kind of girl that caused me to trade dope for diamonds and gold. Man what a hotty! Not just any girl could have got five and a half total carats of stones.

The biggest and best diamond ring I ever traded for was one where I got a very good deal. Sight unseen, I bought a pawn ticket from a friend. I picked up the ring at Paul’s. It had three stones only. A one carat solitaire set in the center of the ring and two three-quarter carat stones on either side. Melinda wanted that ring. And wanted it bad. Begged me for it. But that was one ring I just couldn’t let her have. I bought it as an investment. And in the end, I made money which was a rare thing for me to do. That was one ring she never got to wear on her finger. A friend of mine’s father owns it now. He was smart enough to know what it was and bought it from me when I was down and out and needed the dough. In a way, I wish I would have kept that particular ring. Rings like that are few and far between.

Some of my customers use to think I was a pawn broker. Bringing jewelry as collateral to hold. One girl brought me a ring asking me to keep it until she could pay me for some speed. Said she’d be back in a week. I told her I didn’t want to take her ring but if I did, and she didn’t return, I’d sell it for the cost of the dope. An entire month later she came back asking me if I still had her one carat diamond ring. Didn’t have the money to pick it up, but she still wanted to know. When I told her I no longer had it, that a deal was a deal. She got all sad eyed and upset wishing she hadn’t given it to me at all. That’s when I took it out of my safe and tossed it back to her saying, “This one’s on me. Clean up and don’t hock your jewelry for any more dope.” I just couldn’t bring myself to keep that poor little girl’s ring. But still, I wanted to teach her a lesson letting her sweat.

Never bought any rocks for myself. But I did buy myself some gold. All the diamonds I bought or traded for went to my girls. I gave Kim a nice ring and matching earrings. She probably traded them off the minute I got put in jail. Some women are like that. And others appreciate what they are given. I’m the kind of guy that would rather buy something and give it to a girlfriend than buy something for myself. Especially when it comes to diamonds and gold. From that very first promise ring to the last ring I gave to Jo-Ann, I still remember them all. Being retired, I’ll probably never get to trade for any more. They say diamonds are a girl’s best friend. And you know what? I believe that, they sure got me a lot of preferential treatment over the years. And if I had it to do all over again? I’d still buy and trade for diamonds and gold! I am Tripper! Better diamonds and gold days!