It was 1993, my junior year of dental school. I’d hang around late in the lab. If you cleaned the bottom of the centrifuge, you could usually score some gold dust left behind during the process of casting gold crowns. After a semester of this, I filtered out all the dirt and debris and ended up with a sizeable amount of bling. Waxed up a band, melted down the fruits of my late night salvage sessions and let the centrifugal force fling my gold into the cast that encased the form of my wax creation. A couple nights of finish work and it was ready for Jill’s finger. She’s been wearing it ever since

Fifteen years ago I walked out of prison.  Shortly after that I bought another ring. We’d been through a lot, rather I’d put her through a lot. Over dinner, with a few of our kids there, I asked her to marry me again, not literally(we were still married, 15 years by then) but I wanted to start over. She said yes again. 

Here we are, 31 years today. She loves both rings. The band I made that she wore for the first 15. The big diamond she’s worn beside it for the 2nd 15. For our anniversary she had them joined. Took the diamond and the prongs off ring #2 and had them attached to the band made of salvaged dental gold. 

Those rings have seen some serious shit. A lot of good and a lot of bad. Together they make a very unique ring. More striking and beautiful than when they were separate. 

Our first 15 years were a little unconventional, kind of like the ring I made during that time. 

Our second 15 have been filled with growth, beauty, change and a few challenges along the way. 

Life just keeps getting better with you Chatterton. Thanks for not giving up on me. I love our beautifully unique marriage and your new ring to match. Let’s go for 15 thrice.