My mother's wedding ring got stuck on a joint of her finger, and it began to hurt her.

She got married 70 years ago.  Divorced in 1950.  Her husband, my father, died in February 1996 (having married and divorced again)  I can't ever remember ever saying an affectionate word about him.  But it's the principle.  She is a convert catholic.  She is married to him for ever in the eyes of God.  Even after her ex-husband's death?

Last Saturday, my sister took her to the jewellers - forgetting that on Saturday you can't park outside.  So my mum had to walk much further than she's used to.  Yesterday she still felt exhausted from the effort.

The jeweller managed to remove the ring.  Now he is enlarging it so she can put it on again.

I will see her today and be nice to her, and yes some of the time enjoy her company, be glad she's alive.  But this business about her wedding ring makes me angry.  Sad, very sad, that she wants to go on wearing a symbol that has been a lie for almost 60 years.  Sad and delusional.  Enough is enough.

Whenever she refers to im in my hearing, she doesn't use his first name, or even "my husband".  He's always "your father", as if somehow it was me that brought them together.  A son repsonsible for the sins of his parents.