On Right Hand Rings

I spend so much time worrying about my family, paying bills and managing other people’s lives that I sometimes forget that it is OK for me to indulge myself every once in awhile.  At least, that was the justification for my most recent purchase: a $600 14k gold garnet and diamond ring.  On a normal day, $600 is usually too rich for my blood, but not on this 75% off, one day online shopping pass at Macy’s.  $199 seems doable, right?  Good Lord, my friend has an additional 20% off coupon code that I could apply.  I’m drooling now, furiously clicking the confirm sale button and vacillating over whether not I chose the right size ring.  My sister has baby hands, and she’s a size 5; mine are significantly larger, something that I’ve learned to accept over time. 7.5 sounds about right I think.  I usually wear white gold, so taking a gamble on a yellow gold ring seems kind of iffy, but who cares at the right price: $173, final sale.

SOLD!! 

I anxiously scour the mailbox every day, hoping to see a package from Macy’s.  On the one day I fail to check, of course my package arrives, and I’m at work. Drats.  When that magical number hits, 5:00pm, I fly out the door to my car and race home, because this is the highlight of my work week: checking the mail.

I burst in the door and tear open the white, plastic package.  A little cream colored box slips out, and I flip open the lid.  Wow. The ring is much daintier than I imagined, which is a plus because as any of you ladies with big hands know, the bigger the ring, the manlier your hands look.  Feminine and sparkly, I feel totally vindicated in my splurge.  You cannot even tell it’s a gold ring, because of the tiny diamonds around the band, so it goes great with my white gold jewelry.  The cushion cut garnet stone, my birthstone, is set splendidly in between a diamond square border.  I’m in love. 

What’s the purpose of this story?  There really isn’t any.  Maybe that it’s OK to allow yourself to put “you” first and throw reason and budget to the wind.  I’ll start saving for my future later mom.  Did I really need another ring? No.  But it felt damn good being a woman who could buy it for herself and place it proudly on her right hand.