My grandmother Thaden was often observed caressing her wedding
rings with the fingers on her right hand. My cousin told me this as she gave me the
golden bands, one topped with a sparkly diamond. Grandmama must have loved Granddaddy very
much. The rings were passed to my cousin
after our grandmother’s death, but my cousin always thought our oldest cousin
should have them, or maybe me since I was named after our grandmother. After forty years, she chose me.
My grandmother was a very small woman, and even though her
fingers were thick, her rings did not fit me. I felt like one of Cinderella’s step-sisters
trying on the slender glass slipper. Recently,
with some sudden weight loss, I decided to try them again. This time I was like Cinderella, because the
rings slid right on and now join the gold band put there by my husband. Now it is my turn to caress the rings as I
admire the sparkle and think of my grandmother.
