Unpacking a Compliment

"Young lady, you have a beautiful ring on that finger of yours." -- elderly woman at the chiropractor's office.

"Wow, your wedding ring is incredibly sparkly!" -- middle-aged cashier at Walmart.

"Now, who's the young man who gave you that eye-catching ring?" --lady at church I'd never seen before.

These are simply the compliments I've received on my wedding ring this week. Now, my rings' characteristics have not changed one iota since I had them soldered together. They are still sparkly, still mid-size, and still diamonds. But never have they attracted so much attention as in recent months. I certainly don't mind the compliments, but I'm pretty sure there's more to it.

Perhaps it's presumptuous of me, but it seems that all these compliments can be re-worded to more accurately reflect the giver's state of mind.

"Girl-who-looks-too-young-to-be-that-pregnant, I'm glad to see you with a band on that left-hand ring finger of yours." -- elderly woman at the chiropractor's office.

"Wow, most people who come to Walmart as tore up and pregnant as you don't actually have a wedding ring. Perhaps you're not pregnant white trash after all." -- middle-aged cashier at Walmart.

"Now, please point out to me the man who impregnated you so I can double check and make sure he's wearing a wedding ring as well." -- lady at church I'd never seen before.

Comments

[Gwen]

Why not accept the compliment and not try to read other things into it!