So I was flipping through Ebay, looking at various things, and came across a custom made set of wedding rings that look *exactly* like The One Ring from Lord of the Rings. At first, I thought that was sort of a cool, if fanboyish, kind of a thing to do. Then, the more I thought about it, the creepier it seemed. Sort of like playing “Every breath you take” for a wedding reception. Cool at first, then creepy after you give it a little thought. I could see wearing a ring like that to express one’s love of the books or movies or (as it really should be) the incredible propsmasters who populated the movies with believable and unique jewelry, clothing, etc. I don’t so much imagine it would be cool to express the sentiment intimated by the One Ring towards one’s spouse. The idea that you love something so much you must possess it at all costs is not a concept which should be applied to marriage. That being said, I still bid on one, because how cool a thumb ring would that be! If, of course, you could keep Gollum from biting your thumb off to get at it. I got outbid, by someone who apparently wanted both rings, to help him lock up his “Precious”. Ah well, I wish them the best of luck.
After the auction ended, I decided to find out exactly how “unique” an idea it was to get married with The One Ring. Shock and surprise, it’s apparently quite the thing to do, for those who have the money and the inclination. And for those with the inclination but not the money, there’s quite a business in cut-rate cheap metal versions. I may scoff, but truth be told, if the movies had existed when we got married, I would have had my silver circlet made to match the Elvish ones. As it was, it was still cool. I should get a photo and put it up here. Finding it will be the tricky bit. It’s around somewhere, though. Ten years and change tends to make things get kinda put up on shelves and stored, rather than being out in the front and easy to find. The story behind the circlet is actually pretty cool. I was in a Jazz History class with a friend of mine (also an Art major type), who happened to be a jeweler on the side. He’s a chemist, but has a talent for metalworking. He took Jazz History because it was a “Magic Bullet” class (satisfied several requirements for graduation – nonwestern studies, minority studies, and social studies, if memory serves). He had never played an instrument, and when we started the class, he could not tell the difference between a clarinet and a trumpet (or a Bass, for that matter), while listening to a recording. We worked out a trade, where I tutored him, and he charged me just for the cost of the materials of the circlet (silver wire and peridot stones). It was damn spiffy. I need to find it, or a photo of me wearing it (which realistically would be cooler anyway).
And I am going to try to make the Jazz titles work as long as I possibly can.
