“B- T - A - O - Z - Q - K” I said confidently as I lowered my right hand from my eye. Perfect. Perfect. I had read the eye chart magnificently and now I prepared for my prize. In fourth grade, all of Mrs. Simmons students were lined up and marched behind these temporary dark screen to read projections as part of the public school health screenings.
“Okay Candy. You can go to the bowl and pick out your ring now.” I jolted from my chair and leaned over this slightly illuminated bowl of metal and stones. As part of their incentive for doing a good job the local eye doctor had brought in rings for all the little girls and whistles for all the little boys. I was looking so much forward to getting my ring! I was born in June so my birthstone was pearl. But if they didn’t have that, I would gladly take a ruby.
“Hurry missy, I have more after you.” The nurse prodded me along. I smiled and grabbed a ruby ring from the top and exited the maze.
“What color did you get?!” My classmates squealed as they held out their hands proudly to display their choices. “RED!” I said as I opened my palm up. “Put it on!” They cheered so that I could join their game, talking about pretend fiancés and such. As I twisted and pushed a cold realization fell over me. It didn’t fit. I tried and I tried, but my fingers were too big.“Candy’s fingers are too fat for her ring!” I heard a voice ring out as I shoved the small metal loop in my pocket. Over the next two days I was taunted about my weight and how I wasn’t adorned like the other girl. Until one day I came home and found my father waiting with a ring box.
“For you my darling.” He said as he flipped the velvet box open to reveal four perfect yellow gold rings. As I slid them on I grimaced a little for fear that they would stop short. But over my knuckles and into a perfect resting place they slid. Two on each hand. Perfect. In my size. I went to school the next day proud and polished as everyone gawked over my real gold rings. And as every other little girl’s fingers turned green and the rings began to rust, mine were still perfect, yellow reflection of my father’s will to give me something beautiful, custom fit, just for me.
As I grew, I resized the rings time and time again, until I decided to save them for my daughter someday. But what I gained was a realization that my weight, my identity as a plus size women, may keep me from having some things that seemed tailor-made for everyone else. But it will not stop me for having whatever is meant for me. Not just rings, but jobs, men, friends, clothes, positions, platforms, anything. And often times you find that what’s made for you is far better than the things you been left out of.
HAPPY BIG GIRL’S APPRECIATION DAY!
What’s for you is for you ladies. 💍✨SO beautiful 😍
She’s DIVINELY GORGEOUS.
