I had my wedding band removed a couple of weeks ago. I've lived in a separate apartment from my husband for several years, but we've never done the legal separation part yet.

When I got married in the mid-70's big thick bands were the style for women, but the first winter, when it was colder and my hand got a little smaller, there was trouble. In the supermarket one day, the ring simply fell off and rolled down the canned vegetable isle, with me chasing frantically after it. After that, I had a jeweler install a spacer spring inside the ring to keep it on my finger. It was adjustable, but only so much. As the years went by, and the weight came on, I found I couldn't take the ring off at all for any reason.

This November I finally decided it was time. A jeweler is downstairs in the apartment building. I started and stopped a couple of times on the way to the elevator, but shook my shoulders and went downstairs. The jeweler took a sort of wheel apparatus and carefully and slowly scribed the ring on my finger until a break appeared and the ring could be opened with pliers. Quite by chance, he missed all the inscription.

So now I still have some wrinkles in my finger, but no ring. I think I will have it put back together, just to have it looking ok, and I will keep it for my son.

--Linda