I have not been planning my wedding since I was a little girl. Part of the reason for that may have to do with the fact that my parents were never married by any law except that which we call common. I never saw photos of them together under a wedding arch and I never felt like I was any worse off for not seeing it because I saw what they shared together while I was growing up and that was enough for me. We were a pretty warm and affectionate family and I enjoyed a wonderful childhood. Even though my parents did not stay together it never made me feel like I couldn't or would never get married. There was no wedding dress hanging in my mom's closet and no ring on her finger and never any sense on my part that she longed for any of these things. But like any human female girl with all my senses in working order I was flooded with the same nuptial imagery in television, films, magazines and literature that anyone else is. I loved it. I thought it was great. But I never fixated on it. In my mind I always thought I would get married but I wasn't saving any swatches or looking at dresses or diamond rings. Which brings me to diamond rings.
Diamonds are a naturally occurring mineral rock formation (which can also be produced synthetically) which our system has ascribed a great deal of value to. I remember being in love for sure with the way Marilyn Monroe sang about them in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes." I memorized not only that entire song but for some time, Monroe's entire performance. Marilyn shimmying back and forth in her sexy strapless pink satin dress with a thigh high slit singing in her sultry voice and all those men in black coat tails at her command really excited me. Still does. LOL!
But diamonds. Not so much.
When I look at most diamond rings (and I have looked at a lot) I see only what they represent to other people. I have witnessed the impression of size that diamonds make on people, not to mention price. I have also witnessed countless debates over the size and value of the diamond engagement ring being equal or representative of how much a man loves you or can provide for you. I will say myself that seeing a teeny tiny diamond rock in a poor setting is less than impressive but for me it's not necessarily because it's small or that the guy who bought it is insensitive or a poor provider but because I don't find it beautiful and doesn't make me feel anything. But as you may begin to gather at this point, even huge rocks don't do much for me. It's just the other side of the coin. A big diamond for me does not equal a beautiful ring.
Whenever I look the ring I chose I see what it represents for me. I was walking by the place where it was purchased and it literally caught my eye. It stirred my imagination. I don't really know how else to explain it. I know that it has the potential to have many different meanings for me over time in the way that a square cut or pear shaped (sorry Marilyn) single diamond never could. And trust me it's not for lack of trying to find a more "traditional" diamond ring that made me feel the same way.
I don't have any specs to share like where it was purchased, karat size or the price. But one of the things I like most about it is that in sun light or interior light, the diamonds set inside the sphere sparkle and glitter. I love glitter and glittering things. It makes me recognize that sparkle and glitter represent magic to me. And I'm all about the magic.
I've never been very practical and the things I love have a personal meaning for me that is sometimes hard to describe. But the desire to describe that which means so much is not as important to me as the fact that a sense of meaning exists at all. And it is for this that I am eternally thankful.
Diamonds are a girl’s best friend from Ars Memorandi on Vimeo.
The magical and practical Marilyn
