It used to mean so much to me. I wasn’t sure if I was covering up myself with all those rings & necklaces & bracelets… covering myself up, or decorating my body into a leather & silver Christmas tree-like art piece? I’m not sure anymore.

I would have six or so necklaces dangling at once, wrists loaded with bracelets – & RINGS! Those were my favorite. Small, large & hinged rings. Rings that seemed more like medieval claws & spikes – on ALL my fingers.

It was a glorious expression of excess & absurdity. But I took it seriously. Then came the day when I didn’t so much grow out of it, I just didn’t see the point anymore.

An external presentation can only go on for so long & so far. Identity has more to do with actions, how you treat others, & how you treat yourself.

Nowadays, I’m VERY “boring” with my look. Usually, grey or tan jeans, a t-shirt with a button-up work shirt over it (all articles of clothing a solid color) Ariat Western boots, and the only “ornaments” I wear are my plain, gold wedding band, a SOG pocket knife, and a Luminox Navy SEAL/Leatherback Sea Turtle watch.

Everything a guy like me needs for an average day in the country.

Somedays I remember to hide a pen & little notebook in one of my pockets. You know, just in case…

It’s the wedding band, though, that gets to me. In a good way, that is. I find myself looking down at it more & more, my thumb spinning it around that special finger, remembering its significance. The finger contains that one vein that leads right to the heart. A tradition & belief going back to the 11th century developed from the Roman anulus pronubis. A man would give a ring to the woman at their betrothal ceremony. Blessing the wedding ring and putting it on the bride’s finger.

Now – after going through dozens of rings throughout my life – I finally have one that is meant to be on my finger. And there is one powerful vein running through me – all the way to my heart that refuses to stop beating.

It’s tried a couple of times.

But.

He changed his mind.