two rings

I have a dozen or so rings that are sitting in my jewelry box at any given time.

Some of them are for specific outfits, some are just ones I bought because they were sparkly and I didn’t think about the damage that I would be doing to that month’s rent money. Some are just cool rings that struck my fancy at some funky boutique. It is a nice collection. So nice that those rings sit there and look at me longingly every time I go to grab a pair of earrings or a necklace.

They sit there because there are only two rings that I leave the house wearing anymore.

The first is a gorgeous 2 1/2 carat ruby that is my engagement ring. Since I proposed to him, we went to pick out my ring together. Not to say that I have anything against diamonds, the traditional choice for a wedding ring, it’s just that I am not a traditional girl. The fire of this ring spoke to me. It says to me passion and loyalty and something deeper. I look at this ring and think all of those things about the man I will marry. I am so happy with my choice that I chose a red wedding dress to go with it, not to mention hassling the manicurist to get the perfect shade of red that doesn’t clash with my ring. (I can be a little high maintenance when it comes to my nails.) Thank god the lady at the Chanel counter was able to find the perfect shade of red or there would have been No. 5 flying all over the place. 

But I digress.

The ring I slip on my right hand before heading out into public was a gift given to me by a good friend on my 40th birthday. It is funky and gorgeous and just like her. Every time I look at it I think of her and the wonderful birthday dinner I had surrounded by people I love. It represents her, but it is also something bigger to me. It is a hallmark for all of my girlfriends and how much I love them.

It is about balance. On each hand (literally), I carry two different loves. I have one symbol that speaks to the enduring love that I will have for my husband. On the other, I have the love of my friends and the camaraderie that brings. Both are meaningful, significant loves, and I never want to live my life without either one. 

Now if I can just get my manicurist on board, it’ll all be good.