Wedding Rings

Daily writing prompt
What’s the oldest things you’re wearing today?

The oldest thing I’m wearing today (and pretty much everyday) are my wedding rings. However, they are not the original rings. The first set of rings I wore were sold only a few years after husband and I got married. We sold everything of value because we were going through extreme hardship. It was the worst thing I’ve ever gone through and I vowed never to let my daughters go through anything like that. The most scariest moment was when we only had $20 in our checking and bills were coming due. I spent a lot of time crying and praying and wondering how it all went so wrong. Through sacrifices and hard work, and time, things eventually got better.

The rings are a platinum set. The band I’ve had for 20 years and the diamond ring (1 ct) I’ve had for 10 years (for our 10th anniversary in 2011). Husband and I will be married for 23 years this August. Sometimes, I don’t wear the diamond ring because it gets in the way of chores, but I always wear the band. The rings keep me grounded. They are a reminder of the struggles husband and I endured and overcame. The rings also remind me of the love husband and I have for each other.

Btw, I do have an item that’s been in my closet longer than I’ve been married, but I’m just not wearing it today. It’s a knee-length summer dress I bought at a thrift-store for cheap sometime in the mid to late 90’s. I don’t wear it as often as I used to, but I still swear it.

Book Review: Flat Water

Title: Flat Water
Author: Jeremy Broyles
Genre: Fiction; Literary
Book Length: 215 Pages (print)
Book Version Read: Paperback
Year Published: September 5, 2023

Date Started: May 6, 2024
Date finished: May 10, 2024

This eloquent story tells the story of Monty Marinnis, a man haunted by the tragic loss of his brother in a shark attack while surfing during their childhood. The incident, where his brother sacrificed himself to save Monty, left an unforgettable mark on him. When Monty’s sister extends an invitation to her wedding back in his childhood home in California, it stirs up a flood of memories he’d long suppressed. Among them are recollection of an abusive father who was absent from their lives.

I found this story deeply moving. It explored themes of pain, sorrow, and the journey towards acceptance in the face of loss. Despite Monty being an adult, living in the mid-west with his wife, the weight of memories never seems to fade. Confronting them proves just as challenging. The story delves into Monty’s strained relationship with his wife (who was patient with him and did her best to support and help him whenever he needed it) as well as his desire to reconcile with his father. There were moments where it felt as though Monty would come through, but then he’d fall right back into this dark place that only he could work himself out of. This poignant story is a reminder of the inherent unfairness of life’s twists and turns.

Who should read this book: This would be an excellent read for anyone who enjoys a captivating literary story about family, love, and loss.