“Stephanie Klein is happy.”
I read my friend’s status update on Facebook and I thought, “Me, too.” No exclamation points or anything. Just happy. Things are really pretty nice right now, which makes for uninteresting stories (boo) but really, really good sleep (yay). Like last night, we ate breakfast for dinner, drank wine, watched The Walking Dead (sorry, sorry, I mistyped earlier) and went to sleep with the windows open. See? Nice. I mean, minus the zombie gore. I close my eyes for most of that.
This weekend, the Boy and I visited the jeweler where he got fitted for his shackle. Er, wedding ring. Boy, was I surprised when the guy who wasn’t sure if he even wanted to *wear* a wedding band had so many freaking opinions about them. Matte not shiny. Straight not beveled. Not this one, but a little of that one. He tore through a case of wedding bands like he’d been prepping for days. I expected him to be very meh about the whole process and this sudden wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am decisiveness surprised me a little. What surprised me a lot, though, was how… sentimental he was getting to be about the whole thing.
When he made his final choice, he looked over at me for approval. I nodded and smiled.
“I like it!”
“But does it work? Like in the budget?”
Aw, precious. True, I am the official Keeper of the Budget (a position which allows him to be vaguely aware of its parameters, all the while blissfully unaware of its details) but that he seemed to be asking permission made me feel… well, like I’d been acting a crazy, penny-pinching nut job about the whole affair. Which, of course, I have been. But not about this! Not about his shackle!
“Are you kidding?” I asked. “Like I’m going to say there’s a price cap on your wedding ring.”
He relaxed visibly.
“If you’re going to wear it forever and ever – which you are – then the cost is irrelevant.”
By then, the saleswoman had disappeared to do some pricing or some such, and we were flitting from display to display trying to out-Liberace each other. Double-digit carat gemstone rings and thirty thousand dollar diamond hoop earrings. I stopped, in total shock and awe. When I recovered, I picked up where we’d left off.
“I mean, we’ll be eating Totino’s pizza at the reception, but it’s totally fine.”
“I like Totino’s.”
“Of course you do.”
My husband and I made our wedding bands. Like full on melt the metal, hammer it into shape, spend 8 hours on a Saturday under the close supervision of a Master Jeweler (or other, equally as impressive title) while encased in aprons and safety goggles. It was a super special experience. And since I wanted a band and really *didn’t* want a gemstone, it fit in the budget. It was awesome. The rings are beautiful. And meaningful.
Not even 5 months after the wedding, my husband was surfing and forgot to take his ring off. So, of course, the Pacific took it off for him.
I wasn’t there, but have had several different friends describe him trying to find him. Apparently he was vaguely lunitical (A word? Probably not. But you get the idea) He was so upset when he told me what had happened that I ended up using all my energy to make him feel better and didn’t have any left over to be angry. (He’s NOT a crier so on the very rare occasions when he does tear up, it freaks me out.) He didn’t do it on purpose. And there was no way I was going to make him feel worse than he did.
(As wife of the year, when he told me that he’d lost something really important, I asked him if it was the iPod I’d gotten him for his birthday two weeks before. He said no. I asked what could be more important than the iPod?)
Now he’s got a $25 ring from Amazon until we’re in a position to go out and get him another fancy one. Though the longer we go with the cheap-o replacement, the less urgent it becomes to get the fancy new one. We’ll probably get around to it. Someday…
All that to say – keep the Dork Lord away from the beach!
Jen,
We’d initially talked about a cheap-o, discount retailer tungsten ring. The idea was that, with the amount budgeted, if he chose a cheaper ring, he could also have a new mountain bike. But, since he chose the more expensive variety, it’s getting superglued to his finger for ever and ever. NO BIKE FOR YOU! Hee.
Happy is good.
If the Dork Lord is a fan of zombie flicks (as my husband is) then he will love, love, love The Walking Dead – a new show on AMC. I cover my face with a pillow through most of it but have to admit it’s pretty damn good.
Trudee, that’s it! I mistyped. Yes, it’s absolutely good. Well written and high on tension. But so gross.
I’m surprised he was originally “meh” about the ring when he was so into the name change. My “Use whatever last name you want” husband doesn’t wear a ring. Nor does he wear a watch. I tell him what time it is. That makes me indispensable!
Glad you’re happy & who doesn’t love Totino’s?
Check this site out Heather. It is http://www.idonowidont.com/
It may/may not end up useful for your upcoming nuptials. Congrats to you and yours!
and I just love the post:)
wedding suck, huh? the money factor takes all of the fun out of planning and turns you into someone you dont even realize you’ve become.
I know, because i was you – keeper of the budget…
but feel 100% the same as you did – if he liked it, it was his. i didnt care what that ring cost – he has to wear it forever, so the price-per-wear is nothing! i mean, i have jeans that cost more per wear than that wedding ring…
congrats on getting his ring and on being able to take a step back and let go of some of the money-crazy!
You make people happy. Me happy. I just sat here and thought about sitting at that dinky fishing type of bar, broad daylight, in Newport. Something about how we had walked there, and dammit, we deserved some proper hooch. Random thoughts make me happy. So does your laugh. Miss you.
I love my “cheap-o, discount retailer tungsten ring,” thank you very much Anonymous. We ordered almost a half-dozen from Overstock and I sent back the ones I didn’t like. Even after the restocking charge it was a crazy bargain.
Don- that comment was from me. And we are VERY pro “cheap-o tungsten rings” in this family. All the fellas have them. The Dork Lord just happened to pick something else. Calm, calm. I wasn’t disparaging!
- Heather
I wouldn’t go with Totinos. While delicious, they have to be cut to serve. I’d go with Bagel Bites. As the song goes, Pizza in the mornin’, Pizza in the evnin’, Pizza in your reception line, When pizza’s on a bagel, you can eat pizza anytime. I like the plain cheese kind. Thanks.
Yes, happy is good, and I 2nd the “you make people happy” comment, for me with your writing and I’m sure many other ways for those who know you. I have to admit, I am a little jealous that you are able to sleep with the windows open. But unless you’re moonlighting as Mother Nature, I really can’t peg you for the chilly New England weather.
Glad to hear that you are having happy moments during the planning process. Enjoy every moment!
How sweet!
Congratulations on your fine purchase.
Wear it in good health, Chris.
Super glue! How did we not think of that?!? Next time, for sure… =^)
Hi fish.
I left a post a little while ago and I feel awful about it. Please accept my apologies… I never meant to kick you when you were down and this IS your blog. It is very out of character for me to criticize others, and re-reading it, it came out completely different than I had meant it. No excuses. My apologies. and I’m glad that you’re happy. Content, real, “this isn’t just a passing moment’ happy. It’s the best kind.
Best of luck with everything.
Ha, my husband was the same: ‘I don’t want to wear a ring’ and all, untill we went to shop for one and whoa, what opinions he had. But he does wear his ring every day.
When Derek saw his wedding ring in the jeweller’s case he actually said “ooooooh I liiiiike” How do you say no to that? My thought was if he loves it, he’ll wear it. We got married on November 10th and I keep catching him admiring his wedding band.