My Thoughts: The Ring Factor

It's just been one of those weeks where you finally sit down and realize....it's Thursday.

I finally got home tonight after a busy day of appointments and to watch my biggest guilty pleasure, the Wendy William's show and she was doing a commentary on the pregnant and dating show. She doesn't like it and I agree, I don't like it either. I watched two episodes and was bored out of my mind. Also, unlike moi, I tend to tell guys right away that I'm pregnant....let's get that pink elephant out of the room. These girls aren't saying anything until the 3rd or 4th date. I would be up in arms finding that information out so late, but ahhh who am I kidding, I haven't gone out on a date in over a month.

With that reminder, here I am.

Earlier this week, my son and I had our eye exams. Now, I speak very highly of my optometrist. I've been seeing him faithfully for...well most of my life. I've always had glasses and even in my teenage years, going for my appointment was like Christmas. I'd count down the days and be as giggly as a school girl when that time came. Did I mention he is gorgeous? Maybe that's why I always had an interest in the eye field.

In 2011, I had a decision to make. I was off on maternity leave for my first son and had to make the decision to go back to work at my boring factory job, OR go to school. I chose the latter at the time. I did all the paperwork and decided to become an optician, someone who helps you pick out your glasses and makes the lenses for you. Here's the catch, the only school was 4 hours away in Canada. I live in a border city and a school in the United States offered the same program...at only 2 hours away. I picked out my classes to be 3 days a week all day to make my trip worth it then Canada Post decided to go on strike. My student VISA was stuck in the mail. We all need money to survive, so I took that as a higher power telling me to go back to work so I did...the VISA came 2 weeks later but it was too late. Classes had already started.

Ok, I'm getting off topic here, back to my dreamy optometrist. He knew I had wanted to go to school to be an optician and had asked how it was going, 2 inches from my face. I broke the news that it didn't work out and he seemed so sad. He knew of my interest in the field and it kinda served as a reminder of how much my life has changed and how my dreams are not being fulfilled.

During my son's exam, toddlers as they often are, was not being very co-operative. After trying everything in his power to get my son to look at him (guess who's gonna need glasses probably for school) he makes up his charts and makes the comment that his daughter and my son were born on the same day. I found myself automatically looking for a ring. It never once occurred to me that this guy may have been married, let alone have kids.

In this day and age, I'm finding most people aren't wearing their wedding rings anymore. I was guilty of it too. Being a blue collar worker, I wasn't allowed to wear my rings at work so they often stayed in my jewelry box, where they still sit today. During happier times, my ex and I had gone to the lake with our son and while swimming, his slipped off his finger and we just never replaced it. We talked about it, but never really got around to it.

My father who is also a blue collar worker, never wears his for the exact same reason, he can't at work. So, if you don't go around wearing a sign saying "HEY I'M SINGLE" how do you know? You hear about people meeting in the grocery store, or at the bars but without that ring, how do you know you're not dealing with someone who has a wife and kids at home? I guess you just don't.

Ok, there is a damn kitten outside my window driving me nuts so I'm going to go try, for the 3rd time today to catch him. Until next time. OH and here's my new spectacles: