One of the hot topics for widows is when to stop wearing your wedding ring(s). They say you’ll know when the time is right. It’s not even a question in my mind right now. I don’t care what my legal status is, I still feel married, so I will continue to wear my rings.
The only rings I wear on my left hand were gifted to me by Dwight. My wedding band was actually placed on my finger in 1995, but we didn’t get married until 1997. We had a commitment ceremony in 1995; I knew Dwight was “the one”, but I was gun shy on the whole marriage thing. When we got married, legally, we had a ringless ceremony. Our friend, Todd Alan, a jeweler by trade, custom-made our rings.
The diamond was my Christmas gift a few years later. He even got down on one knee and declared his love (in many words, Dwight-fashion). It was one of the few times I saw him shed tears.
The Claddagh ring was another Christmas gift, an Irish tradition, and I’m wearing it, turned in the direction that indicates my heart is taken.
I’ve added in an Anniversary band of black gems with my bands; It’s a traditional mourning component from the Victorian era. Probably no one else notices it, but it’s meaningful to me.
I have no idea why I’m telling you this…it’s just been something I’ve been thinking about a lot.