The once popular TV show “Ehe-Ring frei!”, which, along with the equally outstanding GDR quiz show “Gehupft wie sprung” was a highlight of East German entertainment television in the 1950s, has been wrongly forgotten. While questions about the topic of partnership had to be answered in “Jumpt wie sprung”, in “Ehe-Ring frei!” several unmarried couples compete against each other in the “pre-marital exam”. Anyone who proved their worth as a duo received a wall unit as a gift.
Unfortunately, it is not known what later happened to the cupboard walls. Perhaps soon after the wedding they were chopped up with a hatchet, sawn apart, set on fire or blown up as part of an extramarital exam. But it bounced like it jumped. Everyone knows: Nothing lasts forever, not even living room furniture. And even wedding rings that were once exchanged with deep affection, right, can be melted down again at any time.
The story of FC Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp, 56, who almost despaired on Monday evening because of the loss of his wedding ring, is all the more touching. Klopp, who has been happily married to a children’s book author for 19 years, had exaggerated his joy at the win against Newcastle United. When the ring slipped from his intended finger, he immediately stopped any further euphoric gestures and thanked the cameraman, who finally spotted him again.
Yes, it really touches you when you feel the power that such a small object still has, even after years. Klopp was never about ostentation, as was the case with Donald Trump, who gave his wife Melania a ring worth 1.5 million US dollars for her wedding (according to Melania’s biographer, the ring was even worth twice as much). In the case of the Liverpool coach, it’s not about any fashion like this silly ring tattoo on the hand of the singer Tommy Lee. It’s also not about science like Wilhelm Roentgen, who treated his wife’s hand with X-rays until he was happy to be able to clearly identify not only her bones but also her wedding ring in a photo. For Jürgen Klopp it’s about: a sign of true love. So more like Duchess Agnes of Waiblingen (1072-1143), who donated a church to Schwäbisch Gmünd out of pure joy over a found wedding ring.
The Swabian Klopp later apologized for his faux pas by pointing out that he doesn’t always know the current thickness of his fingers. A problem that was solved at the Viennese court in 1810 as follows: Since they did not know the size of Napoleon’s ring finger when planning the wedding ceremony with Archduchess Marie-Louise, they had twelve rings of different sizes ready for him. One of them fit.
In any case, the cameraman who found Klopp’s wedding ring on the lawn should be given at least an East German wall unit as a thank you. And preferably one all to yourself. Because: you never know.