CLADDAGH RING

I first saw the Claddagh Ring on my cousin’s ring finger. Her boyfriend had given it to her and she explained to me what it meant. At that point, I know she told me what it was called, but I forgot. I did know what it meant, though. And perhaps that’s what got me obsessed with meanings and stuff for possible jewelries I’d own and have personalized or even the tattoos I’d dreamt of having.

Anyway, for anybody who’s ever seen a Claddagh Ring, it’s an Irish (or Gaelic?) symbol: the hands symbolize friendship, the heart love (duh), while the crown symbolizes loyalty. The heart is at the center of the symbol thing, with the heart holding it on both sides and the crown above the heart. My cousin’s ring was gold and she told me that there was also a meaning with the way you wore it. If the heart is worn facing the wearer then that means that the wearer is taken and the ring was given by a lover (no, not the definition that means a sex partner but someone who loves the person... altho I guess it can go both ways). If the heart was facing outward, it means the wearer is single and the ring was given out of friendship. Real close friendship, I guess. Since love and loyalty don’t really mean much to acquaintances, yes?

Anyway, from then on, I’ve always known about the ring and always hoped that someone would give me one come one day. The ring was also in "Buffy" but I don’t remember that episode so I can’t really promise anything. I did remember Buffy laying down the ring when she "let go" of Angel which only ended up bringing him back from the hell dimension in which she sent him to. But that’s beside the point, isn’t it? Sorry, I digress.

Again, back to the Claddagh ring. I’ve been looking around for it. Not actively, but… yknow, looking around. After all, even if I did find it, it’s not like I can buy it, right? Coz then the meaning would be useless. I don’t think a claddagh ring is something that you buy for yourself. Anyway, when Ina and I were looking for friendship rings, she proposed that kind of ring coz she saw some really pretty ones being sold by some lady in her school. Unfortunately, she never saw the lady again…

Anyway, I finally saw the claddagh ring in Silverworks. The heart had a gem (I’d say diamond but that’d be a big fat lie since it is Silverworks and their precious gemstones only make it up to quartz) on it and yet it was still so pretty. Because I really don’t like gemstones that stick out like they often do in engagement rings. I mean, if you went out and socked someone, that could do serious damage, and likewise if you’re wearing a soft material (it could snag in silk, yknow). And it just seemed so… so… so… so… well, jutted out. So I figure I’d get the dainty, "safe-looking" ones if I bought jewelry.

And again, I digress. I do that a lot. Haay.

Anyway, I saw it in Silverworks and I was with Haj and he hasn’t gotten me a birthday gift so he wanted to give me that. I hemmed and hawed. After all, that ring is best given if the meaning is understood and felt enough that the giver would want the wearer to have it, right? But… whatever. Long story made short: he bought it for me. Yay!! Yay yay yay!! Yippee for me!!

So. YAY!! I finally have one!! And I luuuuuuv it!!

Note to me: wear it often :) heh. As if I'd forget.

Oh, and speaking of jewelries – or accessories, for a more general term – uso ngayon yung bead anklet that’s twisted around the ankle numerous times until you’ve got this… buncha beaded loops in your ankle. Kind of like how loads of bracelets were the in thing ages ago (I believe I was in 5-6th grade then), now it’s anklets. Must get me some and in different colors. They look so sexy :p I asked in SM Dasma (where we went and where I got my claddagh ring – yay me!) and it costs 30 pesos. Man, Ruins sells that for 20. I guess I know where I’m getting mine :p hehehe

And uso ngayon ang mga name stuff. Yknow, name block-bracelets and stuff. It was uso before too, I guess, but… it’s in again now. I’m kinda not into that now. Ooh, but I do want a name necklace. Not the pendant that’s my name but my name that’s sorta worked into the necklace. Or something like that. In the USA kasi, when I got a gold one (to think I don’t wear gold often) that’s a pendant, it was really pretty. But… again, gold is only for "special occasions" and not something you wear everyday. I want a silver one… and, like I said, with my named worked into the necklace. Something really feminine and sexy.

And I saw one being sold in Eastwood, Libis (Quezon City) - yay! - which is just a tad bit too far - boo! - it costs about 800, I think. And also in that store is a small yinyang pendant (those have gone extinct since… since… since the last time I wore them LOL). Anyway, the necklace thing is really nice but now I wonder, if I’m gonna get one, what name will I use? KayE or just kaY? Oh, the questions! LOL Coz "Kaye" has been used longer than "Kay" and those close to me use that. However, "Kay" is what I use now in college and medical school. So if I show up with a necklace with an "e", people might start spelling my name that way and I don’t want them to (yes, I’m weird; tell me something I don’t know, yes?). Now, even though I’m used to both names, it always weirds me out slightly when somebody I’ve known in college spells it out without an "e". I’m just all, "huh?" but then if Ina or Lee or any of my high school friends (or really close college friends) would spell it with an "e" then I’m all okay with it.

Still… back to jewelries. I’m in a jewelry stage again LOL and this’ll probably last until I’ve got morning classes everyday in where I’ll be late and won’t have time to wear jewelry unless it’s my watch LOL that’s why I often don’t wear necklaces anymore in med school. I’m always late in the morning. And I don’t want to accessorize while in school coz that’s just screaming "I was late!!" yknow. At least ring is easy. While running late, I can pick it up off my table alongside my watch, wear it, then wear my watch, all the while running towards school.

If I’ve got the name necklace tho, or even the yinyang one, then, hm… I’d most likely be wearing them when I’ve got an afternoon class only (coz whatever accessories I’ve got in the am is the same thing in the pm; maybe minus some but never adding any). But morning? Well, I’ll cross that bridge when I get there :) If I get there...

Edit:
There is a male version. Haven't seen any, though, but apparently, it does exist.