All rights reserved. Part of the difference lies in the distinction between something and someone. While we can have many cookies or coolers, purchase different ornaments or costume jewelry, birthday cakes come once a year, champagne on special occasions, heirlooms once in a lifetime, and engagement rings once in a loving relationship. There are other differences as well.
Toasts accompany the sharing of champagne, along with the raising and clinking of glasses.
That's not the way we down a refreshing cooler on a hot summer day. Heirlooms are safely packed and stored, often displayed in distinctive cabinets or on special anniversaries. Engagement rings are usually not worn while washing dishes. Mementos that connect us with someone are treated with exceptional care and respect. Family heirlooms deserve special respect, like a recipe handed down from grandma or even a certain item once used by a beloved member of the family who is deceased.