Pinky, No Brain

Luck Be A Pinky Ring

I have a Frank Sinatra calendar on the wall of our computer room. I'm an admirer (of sorts), a fan of his music and I'm ever intrigued by the complex person that Francis Albert was. But that's neither here nor there at this moment. Right now I'm concentrating on his jewelry. The pinky ring to be specific.

In the calendar photo for the month of April, Frank is, of course, wearing a suit, dark with a white shirt and light colored tie, loosened at the neck. In his hands are sheet music and a cigarette. Sinatra is unadorned by jewelry, save for a pinky ring on his left hand.

The pinky ring was, once upon a time, a favorite male furnishing of Las Vegas entertainers, in particular, the Rat Pack, and others of their ilk. Personally, I don't get the look. I don't wear jewelry other than a wedding ring. I don't even wear a watch. I just don't like stuff on me. But I understand that there are some men who dig adornment.

But why adorn the pinky? Is it to bring some self-esteem to the littlest, and perhaps least famous, finger on our hands? I mean, let's face it, other fingers get all the notoriety. The index finger points things out on a daily basis, the clumsy among us are known as being "all thumbs," and anyone who has ever driven anywhere at any time is familiar with the middle fingered salute. And of course, there is the traditional ring finger, where one puts one's wedding band.

There is a ritual amongst Canadian engineering school graduates (I kid you not) whereby a pinky ring is placed on the working hand of the graduate. But obscure Canadian rituals don't explain the affectations of Vegas entertainers. I suppose "affectation" is the key word here. The pinky ring was just a little something to set the Vegas stars apart from all the minor lights in the constellation, as if being wealthy and famous and talented wasn't enough to set one apart. Perhaps the pinky ring was a sign that you were in the club.

What's the point of all this? None, none at all. Stop reading this and go back to your life.