Lady in Red

Last week, my boyfriend proposed to me (appropriately) during the latest episode of The Big Bang Theory. It was a surprise and, after many expletives, I said yes.

The next day, gawkers asked to see my ring and for those (who I knew) that lived far away, received a photo of an awkward hand model pose in front of my living room blinds.

I expected some gasps but what I wasn't prepared for were the comments regarding the fact that my engagement ring wasn't a diamond solitaire. The sad part is my mother and some of her friends even remarked that "...maybe you could trade-up to a diamond in a year."

You see, apparently, every girl dreams of diamonds, tiaras, pink castles in pastel blue skies, and a prince with an eye-crushing diamond growing-up.

I, obviously, did not watch enough Disney movies or maybe focused too much attention on science, sports, music, and boys who barely met the Prince mold.

I was angry; seeing red - and not because I suddenly wanted what everyone thought I should have; I never even considered a diamond as something I want (nor have I ever wanted one)... I was angry because people were disappointed once I showed them the "important digit" to find it wasn't a diamond but an emerald band with small diamonds. I somehow crushed their dreams and then was interrogated by a few who wanted to know why I didn't want a diamond as if it were a problem.

An engagement ring is a physical symbol of a person's promise to a pending lifetime commitment; its size does not reflect the person's love for the other (although for some that might be the case) nor does its stone reflect how much the person cares for the other.

As I sit and type this mini-missive, I look at my ring and smile at the promise; I also look at it and know the person who bought it for me bought me the most expensive piece of jewelry because it truly reflects me, us, and our values. This lady in red is now tickled pink because I know that princesses don't live in pink castles in the skies and love isn't measured by a carat and I met (and love) someone who understands that.