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September 30, 2010 - 11 Comments by Mishelle - Me, Myself, and I

When we were married, exactly fifteen years ago today, we exchanged simple golden bands.  Not long after, during the cold winter in Buffalo, Michael lost his ring.   While I was sad that he’d lost his band it was ok because I had given him a ring for Valentine’s Day 1995.   He loved that sterling silver ring, and we agreed that he should wear that in its stead.

The marquis diamond engagement ring I wore, however, was fake.  That’s been my sordid little secret for a long, long time.  I don’t have a diamond, and that’s ok.  It’s really, really ok. Even the big bling I currently wear isn’t real.  It’s a fun, big, diamond-like ring, but it’s not a real diamond.   It’s costume jewelery.

My gold band and Michael’s silver band are the real deal, though.   They are fifteen years real. They have their surface scratches, and there have been times when swollen fingers prevented a perfect fit, but they have also withstood so, so much.   They are worn even when they aren’t; that’s just how real they are.   They are the circles that represent endlessness.   They are circles that are a token of our undying love for one another.

Fifteen years is a long time.  Fifteen years is easy.  Fifteen years is hard.  Fifteen years, and it’s very much worth every turn of the circle.

“Now place the ling on his hand. A ling is like a circle, it goes on forever. It’s not like a triangle, triangle have corners. It’s like a circle.”