Perhaps I have mentioned before
My usual Thursday mid-morning routine

I join my mother
(Who is mainly enjoying her 100th journey around the sun)
In saying the rosary
With others who live with her
(Though each isolated within their high walled histories)
In assisted living

I finger the golden beads of the rosary
Blessed by the Pope
(Pius the something or other I think)
In the year 1942
Which is the year inscribed 
On the back of the cross
That begins the golden beaded rosary
That also has my name inscribed
Just above the year
Adrienne
1942

But I was not born until 1947
I can imagine this confusing
The granddaughter
Who will one day inherit these golden beads
From her mother
Who will one day inherit them
From me

The secret
The family truth
Of that inscription
Is just this:
My mother’s father
A career military man
Who served in both world wars
Was in Italy in 1942
And bought the golden beaded rosary
Blessed by the Pope
In Rome
Then used them himself
Throughout his remaining years abroad
Organizing medical units
In Italy, France and Germany
During the war
And in refugee camps
After the war

He had the cross inscribed
With the year
And with my grandmother’s name
Adrienne
1942

My grandfather, Daddy George,
Gave them to my grandmother, Mamman
When he returned
In 1946
Just in time for my parent’s wedding

And so
Because I bear my grandmother’s name
The golden beads that run smoothly
Through my fingers on Thursday mornings
Bore my name
Five years before I was born

And so
Because I bear my grandmother’s name
These golden beads became mine upon her death

But they cannot go to the granddaughter 
Who bore almost our name, my grandmother’s and mine
Combined with almost my mother’s name
And honoring the inspiration for her mother’s name
Arwen
Because she died
That already beloved granddaughter
With her twin
Before birth

So Lorien and Madeleine
Will never finger these golden beads
Nor wonder at the inscription on the cross
Nor ask their mother when her mother was really born

So I finger these golden beads
For them
For my grandparents
For my family, known and unknown
Most Thursday mornings
With my mother Lorraine