I was sitting around the dinner table with my mom, dad and my brother Pete and I noticed we were all very nerdily wearing our high school graduation rings on our right-hand-ring fingers. Still. After all these years. My dad has been wearing his since 1965!
Before you judge too harshly, I should explain that we all graduated from Falls High School in International Falls, Minnesota. A school which just happens to have the oldest graduation ring tradition in the United States. Dating back to 1929, this ring design has been used every year since. Everybody who graduates from Falls High School is offered this one option from Jostens for their class ring. And most people buy it.
It's the kind of ring you actually want to wear for the rest of your life. Check it out:
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| Missing from this family photo are Kim, Keri, Kelly and Kasey, all of whom I'm sure still wear theirs too. |
It's got a waterfall (International Falls, duh) and some pine trees (Minnesota, duh) and all the way around the outside of that it says, in tiny tiny letters: "Falls High School * International Falls, Minn."
On one side, it says 19 and on the other it shows your graduation year. Ours are:
Mom: '67
Dad: '65
Pete: '91
Me: '95
You get your ring before you graduate, and you're supposed to point the waterfall towards yourself, signifying the knowledge entering your body and at graduation they do a little ceremony where everybody turns their rings around, meaning now it's time to share that knowledge. (See the comment attached from Auntie Cheryl).
Are you part of any nerdy traditions? And proud of it? Let me know in the comments.
That is seriously SO COOL!! I wish I had a cool family ring tradition. My grandpa and dad's middle names are Raymond and I got Rae. I think that's about as much tradition as we got.
ReplyDeleteThat counts!! I'm glad they didn't buck tradition just because you turned out to be a girl!!
ReplyDeleteI wore mine up to my 10th wedding anniversary when my husband gave me an anniversary ring. Sorry, International Falls graduation ring. I loved you, but you were tossed over. I still have it, though.
ReplyDeleteI think Aunt Julie still wears hers. I'm not sure about Aaron & Betsy...
ReplyDeleteLol. your are absolutely right about the NERDY title ! you must know that in nicaragua only country people do that ! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm only part of fat traditions. Like "Freak Fry-day Fest" which is when Ash, E & I make homemade fries on a Friday and invent every sort of sauce we can imagine.
ReplyDeleteAnd did you know that if you wear the ring with the Falls pouring outward it is to share all the knowledge with others you received at Falls High? You wear it inward til you graduate (to receive the knowledge), then change it around at graduation. And did you know that Mae Gardner's class designed the ring? She was always very proud of her participation. Also years back Josten's Jewelers had a fire that destroyed the original mold. Not sure the year, maybe in the 70's, so they had to make a new mold. Just a bit of trivia.
ReplyDeleteAuntie Cheryl
I totally forgot about that Auntie Cheryl! I added a little info about that in my post. Totally cool and nerdy.
ReplyDeletehaha Ben. I told you. Nerdy --
ReplyDeleteKim, I think they do...you should let Hanna wear yours...
Summer, that sounds DIVINE.
If you run into a really stupid person, you could put your fist up, pointed at them and say, "May the knowledge be with you."
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, are you saying that International Falls graduates are only smarter than really stupid people?
ReplyDeletehahahaaaaaAAAHAAHA Anonymous. BURN! haha Kim!
ReplyDeleteThis makes me sad. I stopped wearing mine when I got my cool square ring in Mexico, late 90s. I was feeling nostalgic for it just a few months back. Went through all my jewelry and can not find!!!! Somewhere between 3711 Harriet & Toledo OH I have lost it.
ReplyDeleteHowever I came across all my gold wedding bands and plan on cashing in!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! KELLY! HA!
ReplyDeleteI still have mine in a box. I still LOVE it!-Kasey
ReplyDeleteI think this picture would make a great cover photo for your book that you'll publish someday.
ReplyDeleteAnne - you have such faith in me. Such misguided faith.
ReplyDeleteI have a nice little ring tradition, as you know, Kady. When I see a ring I can't live without - I buy it.
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw the little picture to this post before I read it. I looked at the hands and thought which of my family members hands are these? It took me one second to say Mom, Kady, Pete and Dad. I still have my ring, I am going to get it out and wear it.
ReplyDelete