Mangled, but not forgotten

When we got to our condo in Keystone, we found that mountains have communities...that's the way I'd describe them. The Condo's at Keystone had a circle to them where the shops and cafe's lined the streets. It sometimes blocked the wind, which made it nice to walk around in. Our condo was called Expedition Station and had underground heated parking, one of my favorite things about it as I'd watch others scrape and warm up their cars in the mornings while I drank my coffee on my balcony.

All month, Mark and I have been asking each other what the other wanted for Christmas. Mark, true to form, always said 'nothing'. I, on the other hand, said I wanted something to open, just didn't know or really care what it was.

The first day we got there, we got the ski's and equipment rented, then just walked around and acquainted ourselves with our new neighborhood. There were tons of ski shops, clothing stores, cafe's and small restaurants and one jewelry store. We visited the jewelry store and, of course, it's all pretty expensive. I mean, it's a ski resort, c'mon. I'm not good at spending money on myself. Oh, don't get me wrong, I can spend major bucks on others and maybe house related things, but I can't get myself to spend money on me.

Everyday, at one time or another, I'd stop by the jewelry store. I'm sure they probably thought I was a shoplifter or something the first couple of days. I did see some gorgeous stuff...but it was more likely that I'd think 'I wonder if Charlie would wear that chain with the coyote engraved on it' (the coyote stands for humor and trickster)...or, who could I get those earrings for? I'm an emotional spending cripple. Everyday Mark would ask if I'd found something for myself yet. I'd bought lot's of tee's and sweatshirts with the local logo for the guys and friends at home. I'd bought candles for my neighbor, I'd bought shot glasses for my friends that collects them, I'd even got ball caps for people I'd probably forget to buy for so I'd have something ready to give them when I saw them and would've wished that I'd gotten them something too. But never anything for me.

Our room had a vcr instead of a dvd player (?). So I went to the nearest town, Dillion, to get a dvd player because we'd taken some dvd's we'd wanted to watch and because I'd gotten the guys the dvd game RIFF for Christmas. Actually, I made 5 trips to Dillion. One for Charlie's medicine (no pharmacy on the mountain), one for the dvd player, one for wrapping paper, one for charlie's birthday cake and some more groceries, and lastly for scissors and tape I'd forgotten to buy with the wrapping paper. Plus, I found a Target and picked up stocking stuffers and stuff for the guys too. So, I was feeling like I was spending enough money, and didn't need to spend more on something for me when there wasn't anything I saw that just shouted at me, ya know?

I did get to know the people who owned the jewelry store really well. A very sweet young couple that had an 9 month old boy that they kept in the store with them. So cute. Often times the mom would wear a papoose carrying him in front of her. I got to know a few of the locals...

Anyway, Christmas morning Mark gave me my card first. I cried, came close to sobbing, but I'll deny that. Mark is NOT the romantic type. To me, this was probably one of the most romantic things he could have done. I'm talking about actually going by the vet's office to look for Maverick (even if he'd already been adopted) and giving me a blank check to adopt a cat with. Then he gave me my perfume.

Later that evening he told me he was taking me to the jewelry store and I was getting something. I had mixed emotions on this, cause I was already so happy with what he'd given me, but what woman doesn't want to be forced to buy something in a jewelry store? So off we went. I'm glad that Mark didn't take it on himself to buy me something there because everything he'd show me, well, just wasn't me. I did get the turquoise earrings I'd eyed for days because they match very closely to a ring and necklace I'd gotten a couple of years ago in Santa Fe. Then he showed me the ring.

Here's the thing with the ring. I've not worn my wedding ring since I was pregnant with Casey, (17 years ago). I'd gained 70 lbs with Casey and they kept telling me I'd need to take off my wedding ring, but I'm a bit stubborn and I refused. One night, Mark was watching football and I was swelling (about 7 months pregnant) and my finger started throbbing. I tried soap, vasaline, everything I could think of. I was in pain and my finger was swelling around the ring. I was so embarrassed, I didn't want to tell Mark. So...I went into the garage and got the wire cutters. Yeah, I honestly did. They were the long nose pliers kind with the middle part being the wire cutters. I must've been in there for an hour and tore my finger and palm up cutting my ring off. I was in tears and just so embarrassed for Mark to know I'd had to do it, plus...I'd ruined my ring. But I was in so much pain. I walked out of the garage with my hand bleeding and crying...poor Mark. Why the man has stayed with me, I'll never know. The only time Mark has ever taken his ring off in 20 years is to rub my feet.

My mom brought me her engagement ring and my grandmothers wedding ring down from Indiana so that people wouldn't think I was pregnant and unmarried, lol. So, I've had rings I've worn...but never my ring.

So, now...back to Colorado. When Mark showed me the ring, I was an emotional wreck again. We bought the earrings and the ring and when we got outside, Mark told me that he loved me and slipped the ring on my finger. I have a wedding ring again, and forever. This was such a perfect Christmas.

When we got back to our place, I told Mark that we should have gotten him one too, so we'd once again have matching rings. He said that he'd thought about it, but I'd not mentioned it. Yes we did, we turned back around and visited the jewelry store again. The owners, Mark and I all laughed when we walked in, but we got Mark a matching ring and when we walked outside I told him I loved him, too, as I slipped the ring on his finger.

The rings are of a native american design, sterling silver band with a 14 kt gold inlay and the feather type design on and around the gold. I still have that mangled gold wedding band in my jewelry box, along side Marks perfect one now. For the first time in a long time, we have matching bands again, with aged love and a new memories behind them.