The ring that ties the knot
Nothing says I'm "tying the knot" better than the ring Lee chose.
While there are so many meanings to "tie the knot" which I've found, my favourite is this -
A Swedish exchange student told me that illiterate sailors and soldiers of yesteryear would send a piece of rope to their sweethearts when they wanted to get married. If the rope came back with a knot in it, that meant she said "yes" to the marriage proposal. He demonstrated this by tying two ornate knots in a length of rope. When the ends were pulled, the knots came together in the middle. Even if this isn't the origin of the expression, it was a charming demonstration.
~found at Ye Olde English Sayings
We give meaning and value to everything that happens or are symbolic to our own lives. There is no monetary worth that can replace what the heart places utmost in truth and love. There are merely expectations and set "rules" from the people around us which influences what is right. But we don't need to follow them.
I acknowledge that the diamond ring is the usual chosen ring of engagement. And many a girl would go around showing off their potential life partner's worth, through this ring. I'd admit I have been guilty of falling into that wishful material trap quite recently upon witnessing a girlfriend's fortune of being proposed to with a rather enormous diamond solitaire. But now being in the position of being engaged, and a long distance away from Lee, this ring is worth so much more to me than the Millennium Star.
I remember the day I once debated with a close male friend about the value of a wedding or engagement ring. Naively I refuted the point of falling into the "drones of the masses" and marketing ploys of the expensive diamond rings. I told him I'd love a blue sapphire gem set in white gold or titanium any day over the common and overrated diamond solitaire. He argued the value of reselling the wedding ring if it was sapphire or some lowly gem. I laughed at the idea, saying
"If you believe your marriage will last 'til death do you part', why should you expect to sell your ring?"He was stumped.
And I still believe that. Why should you put a price on love? On a wedding ceremony? On a ring that symbolises your love and commitment to one another? He/she could just leave you knowing that everything can end in an instant, and replaced by cash.
Each moment that passes, whenever I look at the ring, I grow fonder of the memories we shared and can build together. The value increases even more. I smile when remembering Lee amusedly recalling how he found out my ring size... My ring finger is the size of his pinky.
