My love is like an anchor tied to you, tied with a silver chain.

[judecorp]

My grandmother just showed me the engagement ring my grandfather gave her in 1943. It's a tiny little thing, and the matching wedding ring is just a thin gold band. It barely fits on her pinky finger. Today she's wearing both of them on a chain around her neck.

I asked my grandfather how much it had cost him. He said the engagement ring cost $75, and the two together about $100. I asked how much he was making at the time, at the grocery store I knew he was employed at. He said $0.36/hour, when he worked, which wasn't full time. $5/week.

For $75, he bought a lifetime of memories, of family, of history. They are doing very well for themselves these days, and my grandmother has a whole lot of jewelry. In fact, her current engagement ring, which she got on her 50th anniversary, is 3.5 carats, I believe. It's obnoxiously enormous.

Being the only girl in the family (ha!!), I am constantly reminded that these "female" things will someday belong to me. I have no need for carats upon carats of diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. But I would love to wear that little chip on its thin gold band for the rest of my life. It is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

Comments

[doulamel.livejournal.com]

That is so sweet! It drives me crazy today how some people seem to base love and worthiness on the size of the diamond. Whatever happened to plain ole love people?

What happened to the love?

[etherial.livejournal.com]

I'm selling it for $49.95 an ounce.

As for the other jewelry, I'm sure it will look great with a fancy gown (or a tux) if you ever go someplace really spiffy.

[oddharmonic.livejournal.com]

That is so hell of cool.

I wanted a wedding ring, but finding anything that would size down to a 3.5? Forget it. As my sister says, that can wait for when I marry rich. (Yes, that's a pointed implication I should move on, as if I've got dating potential.)

I own a whole box full of silver rings that don't fit. I think I should start giving them out at Halloween. (:

[whod81.livejournal.com]

is this your hint on 'ryan you need to get me a ring'? :)

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Plain old love isn't dead - it's just a lot more complicated than some more trivial things...

Re: What happened to the love?

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Dude, these rings are so big that they are gaudy. I'd make them into necklaces, or use them to buy a house.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Your ring size is 3.5? Jumping Jesus on a pogo stick!

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

No, love, I already have one. You never need to get me anything but your time and your love. :)

Re:

[doulamel.livejournal.com]

True. And a lot of it seems to be good ole peer pressure too. Like, just from friends being like "that's so small" or something, ya know? I still say it's the thought that counts. *shrugs*

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that whole "is THAT all?" phenomenon is really sucky. I think the gesture is worth way more than some silly stone.

Re:

[doulamel.livejournal.com]

Absolutely.

[brosie.livejournal.com]

and a side of brosie

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Mmmmm, side of brosie.

(See, Siannan? I GET DIBS ON THE BROSIE!)