Freelance journalist Cheryl Jarvis lovingly tells the story of Jonell, her friends, and a $37,000 necklace they bought together and nicknamed "Jewelia" after the late, great Julia Child. What started as a simple agreement to share a beautiful piece of jewelry quickly grew into so much more: a study in friendship and the power of sharing something with a group; the promise of adventure and the meaning of leaving a legacy for your family and community; an exploration of our consumer culture and our desire for material things.

CHERYL JARVIS is a journalist, essayist, and author who's written for The Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, Cosmopolitan, Redbook, and Reader's Digest. Her book The Marriage Sabbatical: The Journey that Brings You Home sparked a debate in major media around the world from the BBC to The New Yorker to Oprah. A former TV producer and magazine and newspaper editor, she has taught writing at the University of Southern California and at Washington University and Webster University in St. Louis.