Rix Quinn’s Minute Story: Senior rings

I’ll never forget the day senior rings arrived. If somebody hadn’t locked me in a toilet stall, I’d have been first in line.

If you ask random people whatever became of their senior rings, my guess is they’d say things like…

1. “I don’t know. Have you seen it?”
2. “I wore it until I was 63.”
3. “I gave it to my old girlfriend, who gave it to her new boyfriend.”

Did you ever wonder how the senior ring tradition started? Me neither…but I looked it up anyway.

Actually, folks have worn rings since ancient times. Many carried engraved symbols.

There were no medieval high schools, because back then people aged quickly, and at 18 qualified for primitive Social Security.  However, by the 1600’s people survived long enough to create schools, award letter jackets for archery, and design senior rings.

Today, rings come in all sizes and styles. I hear there’s a boy’s model so big the engraved school mascot is life-size.

My buddy gave his ring to his steady girlfriend 35 years ago. He didn’t see her again until this year, at a class reunion.

“Diane,” he said, “you and I both married other people.  So, if you don’t mind, I’d like my senior ring back.”

“OK,” she replied, “but does that mean we’re breaking up?”

DENTAL INSURANCE. Call Physicians Mutual Insurance Company for details. NOT just a discount plan, REAL coverage for 350 procedures. 866-687-7055 or http://www.dental50plus.com/offer.

Rix Quinn

Website |  + postsBio

Rix Quinn is a former magazine publisher who works as an independent biographer and broadcaster.

This author does not have any more posts.