Just finished going through a stack of Real Simple magazines (another subscription we have allowed to lapse), and at the back, they have a “Real Life” section where impossibly ideal women answer questions about their lives. They are funny, insightful, and surely not written by real people. But in the forever quest for stuff to write about, I am going to post some of the questions, and my answers, in an ongoing feature. Thanks Real Simple!

What’s your favorite possession?

Just one? I expect stuff like, “My wedding ring,” or “My cutting wit,” or “The abiding love I have for my family,” aren’t in the spirit of the question… and those of you who know me might expect me to say it’s our TiVo (starting to be more love-hate, actually, it is still awesome but I watch too much Tv) or the Prius (I do love it, but I could live without it)… so I’m going to split the difference.

My favorite possession might well be my sister’s ring. We were in Stratford, Ontario, attending the Shakespeare Festival there. My sister lives in NYC, and she showed up wearing a cool little ring. It’s small, silver, and squared off. Not square, but more the shape of an old cathode television. I commented on how cool it was. She said she’d bought it at Bloomingdale’s, and then, right there, took it off and gave it to me.

I wear it every day, and love it. We used to share an apartment in New York, she and I. I miss her, and the ring reminds me of her. I think it looks good on my little finger next to my wedding band. Since then, I’ve often thought that I should commission my two other sisters to get me other jewelry, so I can wear something from each of them. But I’m so damn picky, I may need to send them a URL or something. Kind of detracts from the specialness, no?

So. Here’s a picture of the ring.

What’s your favorite possession?