My daughter, Jana, made a simple request of me last week. She asked for a “something old” piece of jewelry to wear on her wedding day. I immediately thought of the ring my mother wore as her wedding ring, though it looked more like a traditional engagement ring. My dilemma was trying to place where I’d seen it last. I, the caretaker, had hidden it somewhere along with my dad’s old scratchy fake sapphire ring. The rings were far more rich in sentiment than monetary value. And because we’d been burglarized years before, I didn’t keep them in an obvious jewelry box.
The older I become, the more disorganized I get. Anytime I have to search for something, it ends up being a long, scavenger hunt-like process. So I was quite surprised when the second place I’d looked in was where the ring was! I found it within two minutes. A nudge from above? I’d like to see it that way. My mother would be so proud and pleased to have the granddaughter who she never met do the honors of wearing this ring.
My mother looks beautiful in her long flowing wedding dress, standing next to my father the groom. I have retained the old photograph taken in 1940, June 22nd, to be exact. Her ring is at least 74 years old!
Jana said she had the ring cleaned and that it really shined up. I feel a tug at my heartstrings at the connection between my mom and my daughter. My mother missed out on a lot of things in my life as well as my sisters’. But maybe she’ll be with us in spirit on the wedding day. Her ring that she wore so many years ago certainly will be . It’ll see the light of day and encircle grandmother and granddaughter in a very special way. Thank you for wanting to wear your grandmother’s ring on your joyous day, Jana.
Andreamarjulie's Blog 