Another Of Her Desires Fulfilled

Today was a good but tough day. I had a nice visit with our niece Katie Walters and her family. During my visit I was also able fulfill another one of Jennifer's desires. I delivered Jennifer's wedding ring to Kate. It was tough, just because it was just yet another confirmation that she is gone. I am more than happy that Kate now has the ring. I know she appreciated getting it and understands how important it was to Jennifer.

It was nice seeing the Walters clan. They have been fighting the illness bug all fall and that has prevented me from visiting them earlier. I always enjoy visiting them. They have the cutest kids. Lydia is now a 7th grader (which is hard to fathom) and she is such a sweet young lady. Their son Teddy is a kid that is full of piss and vinegar and always good for many laughs. The kid is one hell of a story teller and does not know a stranger.

Anyway back to Jennifer's ring. She was very clear on who was to get her ring. This ring was not our original wedding ring. When we hit our 20 th year of wedded bliss, Jennifer decided that it was time to upgrade her ring. I guess she figured she earned it, having put up with me for 20 years and I grudgingly agreed.

So the hunt for the ring she wanted began. At the time we were in Pittsburgh. Now I wish I could say Jennifer knew exactly what she wanted. She did not, but she sure as hell knew what she did not want.

Anyway as near as I can tell we pretty much visited every jewelry store in the Western Pennsylvania area (or at least it felt like it). We were striking out. She was being very particular on what she wanted, which was fine with me. This was going to be a significant investment, so I wanted her to be happy and I did not want to be repeating this activity again.

She finally consulted with our friends the Brennan's who were Pennsylvania natives and they recommended a jewelry store that was near the downtown Pittsburgh area and it was there that she finally found what she was looking for.

This ring was a significant upgrade from the original little diamond that I gave her when we got married. I know I have mentioned that we did not have a pot to piss in when we got married and to be frank she was lucky to be getting a real diamond.

I had to finance it and actually got a deal because my good friend Tom Davis and I bought our rings at the same time and the store owner cut us a deal for that and because we were college students, but it still was a significant investment for both Tom and I. To be completely transparent we both "out kicked the coverage" and we were both lucky to be convincing these quality of gals to marry our sorry asses. Sadly, Tom also lost his wife Cathy way too soon, also to cancer.

Anyway, Jennifer finally got the ring she wanted and she was very proud of it. However, she was also very conscious where she wore it, she was always concerned someone may try to hit her over the head and steal it. She actually bought a simple little gold band that she wore anywhere sketchy or for any strenuous activity (She was afraid that she might lose the stone). For the last several years she did not wear it a lot, but it still was very special to her.

So it was a good but tough day. However, my heart is happy, because I know she is happy. I am also happy that I was able to get it to Kate before Christmas. That was important to me.

For those that never got to see her ring below is a photo of it. I took one just so I could go look at it now and again.

Well enough for today.