A compliment I got this weekend got me to thinking; when, if ever, should I remove my wedding band. And, if I don’t, then just because I wear a ring on my left ring finger will everyone always assume I’m married? That’s not to say that I’m trying to date or any thing. I’m content with the men in my life. Like I said, I’m just thinking. And sharing with ya’ll.
Actually, I was wondering if there are any etiquette rules for this sort of thing.

Here’s what happened;

I was in World Market this weekend while I waited for Jordan to finish his two-hour class at the UMKC School of Medicine — he goes every Saturday morning. I’m always looking for something that will keep me busy during that time. I hadn’t done Westport so I drove over there and walked around. I wandered into World Market. I love that place. It’s full of interesting stuff and there is always something in there that you hadn’t seen the last time you were there.

So I’m strolling up and down the aisles and stopped in front of jars of olives. I mean big giant olives and each jar had olives stuffed with something different. The ones stuffed with pepper jack cheese are the ones that stopped me in my tracks. I thought to myself, Boy that sounds good. Or at least I thought I was only thinking. I must have said it out loud, or either this guy’s a mind reader, because he responded, “It sure does.”

I turned toward the voice and looked right in to the smile of a good-looking, six-foot-or-so tall, fifty-something-year-old man.
That was like an invitation for me to start talking about all the interesting food in the place and how one should never come in to stores like  this when they are hungry. I already had my arms full of odd pastas, teas, and crackers.
So we chatted for a while, making one another chuckle. Picking up different jars of food and commenting on whether it would be tasty or not and what it should be served with.

I always hated when my mom would strike up a conversation with random strangers in the grocery store — EMBARRASSSING! But here I was doing yet another thing my mother would do, that I had said I’d never do. 

I bet this poor guy never imagined that his brief, friendly encounter with a chatty Cathy in the store would end up online; Gotta watch who you talk to these days. Anyway, when I’d had enough of the small talk I said, “nice chatting with you,” and started to walk away. He said, “nice chatting with you too. Your husband is a very lucky man.”
Well that kind of startled me, I wasn’t expecting it. I’m thinking, and I was careful to make sure it didn’t slip though my lips this time. Is this guy hitting on me?
 I didn’t know whether I should tell him I wasn’t married, that my husband had just passed away in December, I’m a widow. Nah, I thought. That would just evoke a sympathetic, I’m so sorry to hear about your loss, and this man doesn’t even know me. And, what if it just makes an awkward situation worse? Besides, maybe he was just paying me a gentlemanly compliment.

Anyway, as I got into my car I realized I was twirling my gold wedding band with my thumb. And I got to thinking, this band has meant so much to me and I’ve worn it so proudly for 20 years as a symbol of my love and commitment to a wonderful man. What does it mean now…?
Just thinking.