Love

25 years ago today, I married the man who would become my very best friend in the world.

This is one of my favorite photos of my husband - I know precisely what he was thinking in this moment. It was a happy thought, his expression to the contrary.

Oh, I know. We all think we're marrying our best friend on our wedding day. But real love, real intimacy, comes later, after many years of laughing and crying and working and celebrating and sorrowing and all the things that go into life.

She had always thought that exquisitely happy time at the beginning of her relationship with Nick was the ultimate, the feeling they'd always be trying to replicate, to get back, but now she realized that was wrong. That was like comparing sparkling mineral water to French champagne. Early love is exciting and exhilarating. It's light and bubbly. Anyone can love like that. But love after three children, after a separation and a near-divorce, after you've hurt each other and forgiven each other, bored each other and surprised each other, after you've seen the worst and the best--well, that sort of a love is ineffable. It deserves its own word.

- Liane Moriarty, "What Alice Forgot" 

I've been thinking a lot about marriage these days and the jewelry people choose to mark their commitment. Some years ago, I got it into my head that I "needed" a diamond ring to wear with my wedding band. (My engagement ring is sapphires - my birthstone.) I wore the diamond ring for a year... and then one day, I looked down and realized that my hand didn't even really look like mine with that diamond on it. I put my original engagement ring back on and never wore the other one again.

So I know what the "traditional" standard is and while I am more than content with the lovely rings my husband gave me, there are so many beautiful and unusual pieces out there I thought I'd use this space today to enjoy some of them virtually.

Love the "art deco" feel of this one.

Chuck Domitrovich (on Etsy) has some truly beautiful and unusual wedding pieces in his shop.

I'm crazy about the combination of refined and rustic in these rings. Terrific pieces by Laura Guptill.

Ring Unique in Austin has a lot of stunning designs, but this one really struck a chord with me - a cross between The Magician's Nephew and Frank Lloyd Wright, maybe?

I love the look of these recycled silver stacking rings by Glass Wing Jewelry - one for each decade, perhaps? 

To my husband: thank you. You'll never know how grateful I am for you and the years we've shared.

To the rest of you: go tell someone important in your life how much you love them.

Until next time!