Ring vs. Vegas

So the new epidemic sweeping North American is not TB, SARS or even syphilis, although surprisingly the first and last are increasing. Nope, no medical pandemic, it's engagements. I would prefer the others in some respects. Cheryl's getting married, Jessica is making it kosher, Sheldon is now engaged and I'm not holding my breath that Parveen, Meisha or someone else won't be engaged in the near future. All these commitments and even babies (Melissa, Josh Tasha, and now Nathan/Emily) within the last year has got me wondering what am I waiting for? The rest of the world is moving on and I'm in this well "he's out there somewhere" stage still, kidding myself and/or trying to dull the annoyance of it all. So on Meisha's recommendation and considering I do not see any likelihood that someone will purchase it for me, I am considering for going my week in the sun for the ring posted below. I can get my own ring and the hell with waiting. The hell with conversations like I had today with my mom about what we should do for mine.... have not told them yet because I know they wouldn't believe me and most likely would have an even stranger reaction than they did to Sheldon... Let's play it out.
"Mom, Dad I believe that there is not point in waiting, and that I am destined to be single, so I'm buying the ring I wanted and trying to move on and out of here ASAP"

"Oh honey you're being crazy, there is someone out there for you, remember I got married late and so did your Auntie Janine and Auntie Kerry" (they would go on listing while I replay my dad's use of the word spinster when describing his aunt who raised his siblings...)

"Look you still get a wedding and all that business with Sheldon and Steph, don't project your dreams on me too, I've got enough shit* (parental appropriate word to be substituted) to deal with when it comes to society, especially Christian society's view that I should be married.

and so it would go back and forth, and my mom would end in tears believing that evil feminists and my tattoo caused all this to happen. and my dad who cries at every country song about daughters getting married will continue with that, and who knows someday may get the chance to do it for a granddaughter - since I still plan on adopting...

Got any options? The ring or Vegas?

A single perspective on weddings....

While weddings are not marriages, all I've seen and been through in the last few weeks has made me wonder if we've missed the point, or if my single view is just that - the view of a single individual, as well as my view being held by just me, and no other member of this population would agree with me. Being a maid of honor, has become nothing like I thought it would be for various reasons, but those aside. I've found the greatest issue is I've been continually confronted with the statements "when I do mine" and such like and yet as we've seen and know, and I know if I'm honest those statements are worthless. Not so much in that I will change my mind, more so that there will be no "big day." Dealing with all these plans and its insanity has been the self really tough love I needed to banish the one last remaining thread that had been the snag in my life. My life has been directed along a path that does not provide for or in many respect require/need a partner. Sure marriage is a wonderful thing, life partnership and yadda yadda. But marriage is not an indicator of your value to the world in general, your value to your friends, you own determination of self worth, it does not make life better or worse, easier or harder, it does not make getting out of bed all the more grand. Life without a vintage piece of metal and gem should not belittle who I am or where I am going. Pop culture may have told me so, but it also has shown me via endless hours on myspace and blogs that what I'm looking for doesn't exist and as So You Think You Can Dance has proved, while partnering may be difficult - you get to the end and save yourself - determine your direction always independent of a partner - it's you and you alone. And is that not life? Sure some may say that's stubborn or selfish but in the end I think would be more stubborn/selfish to have a wedding knowing you can't have a marriage.