Language Shaping Awareness

 My class notes read:" We need use to create symbols, for example, a tree alone is not yet a symbol, but tie a yellow ribbon around the tree, and it becomes symbolic, it has meaning. Only humans use symbols"
I recently experienced the significance of symbols and their meaning in American culture last Saturday when I  went to deposit cash in a bank account and I did not have the account number with me. The friendly teller said "no problem," and for a quick moment he hesitated and looked at my left hand and 3rd ring finger, unadorned.
 I believe his looking at my finger was unconscious on his part.  Wedding rings have been worn on the left hand, third finger, "because of the strong held belief that this finger is closest to the heart. " (www.hubpages.com)  Wedding rings in many cultures symbolize love and devotion forever. Marriage in our culture symbolizes stability, consistency, and moral values. I think this young teller looked at my 3rd ring finger on my left hand and when he saw it was not decorated it caused him to hesitate on my credibility. However, I think the information I had given to the bank teller was enough for him to proceed with the transaction.
The wedding ring in our American culture represents commitment on behalf of both women and men; the lack of a wedding ring on a middle aged woman can give give the message of self indulgence, and for a man it can be regarded as particular. This  unconscious  message of the latter is disconcerting and not at all the reason I lack a ring today.