Tuesday, September 3, 2019

The Rings


The Rings

Today is our 3rd wedding anniversary. So many writing paths to ponder, but I woke up this morning thinking about our rings. 

I love the symbolism of our watches in this picture. No more waiting.
 I love our rings like I love us. We each picked out our own.

Mine was designed and made by local guy Doug Newcomb at the Goldsmith. Doug had been in a terrible mountain biking accident – after he finished my ring and before the wedding. He and his wife Kathy were able to attend, and I still choke up thinking about my whole experience with them.  For years I imagined having to get my wedding ring in someplace like Rainbowville, California because I couldn’t envision going into a local shop with my partner and picking out rings with comfort, ease and excitement. Ring shopping at the Goldsmith with Kathy and Doug was a gift from the get-go.

My ring design was inspired by the closet doors in my childhood home that my mom had painted. Those doors were inspired by the work of Dutch painter Piet Mondrian. There’s a bit of a Tetris flare, which I also like, because my job for the last 12 years can be likened to the game, but arranging semiconductor components on a chip.  I simply preferred silver.

My ring is from Idaho – just like me.

Jena’s ring came from James Avery.  From Wikipedia, “James Avery Artisan Jewelry is a private company that designs, manufactures, and sells jewelry, primarily Christian themed. The founder, James Avery, started the business in 1954 in Kerrville, Texas out of his mother-in-law's two-car garage with about $250 in capital.”    I think every girly-girl in Texas knows about James Avery.

Jena’s ring is from Texas – just like her.
 
As Jena grew up, James Avery jewelry was always a cherished gift from her mom. She used to get charms for her charm bracelet, but as she got older, it changed to necklaces, earrings and bracelets. Jena was drawn to her ring immediately.  It is three different bands connected together. We started to apply any symbolism after-the-fact.

She’s got 3 kids. We got married on the 3rd. I joked about the Holy Trinity (which, considering my religious school upbringing and occasional Episcopal Church attendance, is not a sentence I just felt good writing, but hey – the Episcopalians are pretty chill.)  The church we go to when we go is called Trinity, and we feel comfortable there. Jokes aside, that, and the name, are significant. 

What a lovely doodle-fur backdrop.
Our ring-bearer was our 2 year old golden doodle Lynda Carter. We both adore this licky, nervous, not-so-well-behaved lil thing. She’s unpredictable, entertaining, and full of love.  Gee – like our marriage. Lynda Carter was the ideal choice -  to “ring” in our new years.   Cheers!

Lynda Carter did such a good job!

She may have thought the whole day was about her, but clearly this moment was.