I had almost given up hope of ever finding it.
Almost.
It had been three years since I could account for its whereabouts after all. Yet dim and hidden away in the farthest corner of my heart glimmered a tiny, inextinguishable spark of hope.
Hope is what compelled me to sift loathsome vacuum cleaner bags when I realized it was missing…
Hope prompted me to dig deep into sofa and chair cushions, as recent as last week…
Hope begged me to revisit places I had checked a dozen times….
My loss represented eternity, everlasting love, and though the Doubter in me knew it was gone, the Believer couldn't let go.
* * * * * *
It was an anniversary gift from my husband, a rare surprise to me on our tenth, and I was impressed he even knew they existed. We aren't extravagant gift givers and this was costly and thoughtful and perfect: a band of gold embedded with diamonds, representing ten years of marriage. An eternity ring. In fairy script engraved within its inner ring, careful eyes might discover our wedding date.
* * * * * *
My husband is observant. If I were the type wife who bought clothes and hid them in my closet, he's the one in a thousand who would ask THE DAY I BOUGHT IT, "When did you get that?"
I dreaded the day he would notice I wasn't wearing my eternity ring.
* * * * * *
It was on our 20th anniversary that Tad surprised me with a trip to a local jeweler to have my rings reset. I rarely wear gold jewelry anymore, but my wedding band and engagement and eternity rings were set in yellow gold. His gift was to have them reset in white gold, or if we could afford it, platinum. We spoke with a salesperson, looked at several different options, then he took measurements of my stones. I was eager and excited to have this done–the new setting was going to be gorgeous! He promised to call us within a week to give us an estimate. I crossed my fingers the platinum setting would be in reach, though I expected white gold would have to do.
In the end, neither mattered.
We never heard from him again.
* * * * * *
Initially I was angry and offended the jeweler didn't bother to follow-up with an estimate; but eventually the money we would have used for that went towards something else. I have no idea what now, but with three kids and a declining economy, it's not difficult to imagine the money was spent on something we needed rather than on this lovely indulgence.
Tad's thought still counted.
* * * * * *
A dish sits on my kitchen counter, a gift my daughter painted years ago. It's salmon and turquoise and cornflower blue and doesn't match a blasted thing, but the mama-heart sees only beauty. It's what holds my rings while I'm cooking or cleaning–I can't stand to do either with them on.
Around the time of our wedding anniversary last year, I was cooking dinner. Tad picked up one of my rings and observed out loud, "I can't believe you've had your rings for over 23 years…as much jewelry as you've lost, it's amazing you've held onto these!"
Cringing, all I could manage in reply was a muttered, "Yeah, I know…" but I couldn't raise my eyes to meet his. I knew I was finally busted!
But he didn't remember. Somehow, he forgot about my ring and didn't even notice it was missing.
I was a tiny bit hurt but mostly relieved.
I looked for it again the next day.
* * * * * *
2010 my body rebelled against me. Though I'm not eating more, metabolism has slowed and my shape is changing and the pounds add too easily. My clothes scream at me when I zip and button.
I hate it.
I'm not exercising regularly and I know I need to for a host of reasons, but I've never found that thing I love. Still, yesterday–on New Year's Eve–I decided to do something, cause I believe something is better than nothing.
I ran my stairs 20 times, furious that that made me so breathless, so easily. After that, I began a series of basics–sit ups and push ups and lunges, baby steps to get me started. To strengthen my core, I assumed the plank position.
I was in my bedroom.
* * * * * * *
Barely 20 seconds in, I glanced to my left and saw something under the foot of my bed, a small brassy ring. I stared in disbelief not wanting to raise hope but unavoidably, hopefully, thinking it couldn't be...c o u l d i t?
I held position for a minute, then reached out to finger the ring. It rolled to one side and I saw…
…diamonds.
My insides exploded, my spirit happy danced and joy-flooded tears filled my eyes.
It fit more beautifully than Cinderella's glass slipper.
What a wonderful New Year’s gift!
Hooray! Thank you for posting this. I’d been happily waiting since you Tweeted yesterday. 🙂
YAY!!!!! That is so cool – He is faithful. Even in the small (but, not really so small at all) things!
Woohoo! Thank you for sharing that exciting moment with us all! I can feel the joy in the discovery through your words!
Too cool! My hubby bought me a sweet ring for Christmas one year and I took it off to put lotion on my hands in the car a few weeks later and somehow lost it. I never found it and we didn’t have the money to replace it. On our 10th anniversary, a few years ago, my sweetie got me another just like it. Gotta love hubbies! Glad you found yours..that is so cool!
I’ve been where you’ve been, but only for about 10 minutes while my kids searched my bedding for both my rings and found them there (it’s a long story). There is nothing, NOTHING like finding them again and having that same rush of excitement that you felt at the time he asked you to marry him flood through you all over.
Happy you found them!
What a great story! I can’t wait to read your husband’s reaction. 🙂
And now more than ever I cannot wait to meet you at Blissdom. My rings are gold, too. And this “stage of life” is kicking me in the rear! Ugh.
Oh Happy Happy story! Finding Things That Are Lost is so much fun…
I can’t help but think of the widow looking for her one lost coin; remembering that we at one time were Lost Things.
Even better: The Angels Rejoiced over Us being found as you rejoiced over finding your treasured ring! (Luke 15:6-8)
Boy, ain’t that somethin’ now? Happy New Year!
What a wonderful story. My husband surprised me with a beautiful band also. He even made sure it was the right color and size to fit near and around my original wedding set. I would be sad if I lost it. 37 years of marriage and he is still surprising me.
How amazing!! To find it after such a long time searching!! Beautiful! I can’t wait to hear the rest of the story!!
How cool!!! But, of course- that also shows what is true in most households. We never move our bed to vacuum well underneath!!!!
Oh, happy day! I love your true story and can’t wait for the second installment, which I’m sure will include a happy dance or two….
While cleaning part of the basement a few weeks ago, I found a gold earring I lost years ago. Its mate has been in mourning in my jewelry box all that time. But would you believe I lost that earring AGAIN before I could get it out of the basement? Can’t figure out where in the world I laid that darn thing down!
ohhhhhh! can you see this huge smile on my face right now!?!? what a gift, robin. so so excited for you!
Oh wow! What a wonderful gift as the new year begins.
Omygosh you are NOT going to leave us hanging like that!!!
Yay! What a great gift for 2011!
Wow! What an amazing story. So happy for you! Reminds me to get my eternity ring into the jeweler to get the loose diamond fixed, for pity’s sake.
YAY!! I lost my wedding ring once, for over a year, I think. I was pregnant, snoozing on the couch, my toddler playing with the rings on my hand, slipping it off to try it on and I was too sleepy to stop her.
And then it was gone.
We turned the house upside down. And many many months later, while finally unpacking some boxes left from when we moved — guess what I found dropped down inside of one? (One that had been opened and then flaps folded shut rather than taped back up. Do you think she put it in there on purpose? THE WORLD WILL NEVER KNOW.) ;0)
Yay! I have an anniversary ring that’s almost just like it. I have great ring stories, too, that I should write…