Ringless again

V and I have had what could be called a tumultuous past. While we both knew right away that this was "it," we really weren't prepared for the realities of putting together two rather set-in-their-ways adults who both had over-packed baggage and (at the time anyway) factors such as foster and bio kids/grandkids whose needs and behaviors would lead to conflict between us.

Within 3 months of our meeting, V. proposed and gave me a ring - a beautiful diamond in a platinum solitaire setting - and only a few weeks later we had a very meaningful commitment ceremony, just the two of us in a suite overlooking the ocean.

But life happened, and just over two years after we met it looked like we wouldn't make it, and I took the ring off. Much of the next few months were touch-and-go (very often seeming like "go" was our only path), but after a year of hard work and hard choices, it was clear that things with us were back on track.

It just didn't feel right to just put my ring back on, though. There just seemed to be too much pain associated with it, too much to remind me of taking it off and giving it back. So, with the help of a friend who is part of her family's jewelry business, we had it remade. They were able to use the same band, but instead of a high solitaire, they created a semi-recessed setting for the diamond, flanked by two beautiful sapphires which I love.

I was thrilled. It felt so good to be wearing my ring again, to have it "recreated" to honor the changes in our relationship.

But, foolish girl that I am, I tend to think that nothing bad can happen no matter how much I abuse things, and sometime during all the work involved with our move to our new house last summer, I lost one of the sapphires. And sentimental fool that I am, I kept making excuses to not get it repaired just because I didn't want to take it off my finger again. So yes, for over a year I wore a ring that was obviously missing one of its three stones.

Now that we're "re-engaged" though, it was definitely time to get this taken care of. After a much needed sharp poke from my friend, I finally took it off and mailed it to her today. I feel naked, and in just the two hours since I've had it off I've already had one panicked "oh SHIT where's my RING?!?" moment.

I'm looking forward to getting it back. I've asked my friend to figure out a band that matches it while she has it there, since we want to give her family our business once we're ready to buy our wedding bands. And I'm certainly glad to know without question that THIS time, my ringless state is definitely very temporary.