The Ring: When Love Comes Full Circle…

Years After Guitarist Slash bids adieu – A Ring Helps Love Find Its Way Home…

“When you love you should not say, “God is in my heart,” but rather, “I am in the heart of God.”
And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.” Kahlil Gibran

Billy Preston & Syreeta – With You I’m Born Again

If you’ve read my blog interviews, you’d recall my special blog post spent in the company of the indomitable Rose Casanova. Rose, a writer/blogger who recently moved to New York by way of Chicago, has returned as our guest blogger this week. With this post, we add a new direction to mirth and motivation; hearing and reading stories that warm our hearts and champion us on to seize the moment in life, love, and whatever else captures our passion. Below, Rose shares a beautiful story of love lost and found … with John in Brooklyn, NY. Join me in welcoming this talented writer, humanist, humorist, and all around homegirl.

“This is love: to fly toward a secret sky, to cause a hundred veils to fall each moment. First to let go of life. Finally, to take a step without feet.” Jalal ad-Din Rumi

I have worn an antique ring on my right ring finger for the past twenty-five years. It is the only piece of jewelry that has stayed on my body regardless of anything. It’s a tiny ring with a rectangular setting of garnets surrounded by marcasite. There’s nothing spectacular about the ring, it’s just that it has been on my finger all these years.

I got the ring from John; a boy I dated in 1990. We both worked in a venue where bands played and after the crowds cleared, the guys who cleaned up would find an occasional piece of jewelry. One night after a show, John handed me a ring and said, “I just found this. Do you want it?”

I put it on my finger.

“To love someone deeply gives you strength. Being loved by someone deeply gives you courage.” – Lao Tzu

Guns N’ Roses – Don’t Cry (1991)

During that period, Guns N’ Roses rented out a space where we worked. They were rehearsing and recording their second album. After they finished for the night they would come down to the bar where I worked and drink. Their presence attracted everyone to our club. People came from all over the state just to get a glimpse of fame. Everyone drank and fell all over the superstars of rock.

As fate would have it, Slash asked me out on a date. I said yes and dumped John. I was young and shallow. On our first date, Slash and I went bicycle riding. He had a new BMX bike he was testing out. I was on my ten-speed. I was so nervous that I didn’t pay attention to him and rode as fast as I could. When I turned around he was five-hundred feet behind. People on the street recognized him and yelled his name. I tried to pretend he wasn’t famous, and I acted like I didn’t notice.

When we got to the lake we rested and smoked cigarettes. We were out of place at the beach. We both wore black and looked like we just rolled out of bed. Everyone else had a tan. We were approached every ten seconds by an admirer wanting to meet Slash. He shook hands, signed autographs and smiled underneath all that hair. That night we went to a club. I thought I was so cool on Slash’s arm wearing my vinyl skirt and cowboy boots.

Two weeks later Slash (his new album dropped in April) dumped me for a model named Meegan. She had a razor sharp Betty page haircut and perfect pointed nose. She had gleaming white teeth and a tan. I hated her. As for John, I remained friends with him for a few years. He moved to New York to get his Master’s at Columbia. The last time I spoke to him was in 1998 … more on that later.

“Woe to the man whose heart has not learned while young to hope, to love – and to put its trust in life.” – Joseph Conrad

Poison – Every Rose Has Its Thorn

A couple of years ago, I broke off a twelve year relationship. I ignored all the red-flags in that relationship even as every bit of identity I had was slowly stripped away; everything except for the ring I wore on my right hand. I should have left six months into the relationship when I came home from work to find he had destroyed all my journals that I had written … since age nine. I still feel a horrible pang of loss when I think about it.

When the relationship ended, I got a Facebook page so I could reconnect with all the people I had known prior to my twelve-year isolation. I connected with friends all over the country, all over the world. I met up with people I hadn’t seen in decades. John and I became Facebook friends. “Sorry I dumped you for Slash,” I said during our first phone call.

“The supreme happiness in life is the conviction that we are loved.” — Victor Hugo
“A very small degree of hope is sufficient to cause the birth of love.”-Stendhal

Peaches & Herb – Reunited (1978)

“That’s okay,” He said. “I guess I can’t blame you. Anyway, it’s a good story to tell. Not too many guys get dumped for Slash.”
“You gave me a ring twenty-five years ago.” I said. “Strange thing, but I’ve never taken it off. It’s on my finger right now.” … We reconnected.

So here I am in New York, Brooklyn to be exact, with the boy I used to love and the man I love now.;

Rose recently made a huge move from Chicago to New York to be with John, her boyfriend; they live in the historic borough of Brooklyn. Their love affair, which started 25 years ago, has surely come full circle. Rose is a writer and actively explores all that the city can offer. You may reach her @RoseCasanova via Twitter and at her blog – What’s your Plaza?

Do you have questions or comments about Rose’s love story? Do you have a unique or similar story to share? Please leave your feedback below. Thank You!

COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER FOR VIDEOS***
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

PHOTO CREDITS:
All Photographs of Rose Casanova, John, and The Ring ~ By courtesy of Rose Casanova
Slash ~ via Google Images

Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank