So, I Lost My Grandmother’s Ring

Posted by Kelly on September 21, 2009 in Life, Starr | 15 comments

It’s a small ring, it has no real value, except to me. It contains the only diamonds I own, all of my jewelry is hand me downs or sale items from Target or JC Penney. I don’t know the story behind this ring, as she had a story for everything, but I do know that in later years she had her three rings attached so that they were one. After she passed away the rings were detached and one of the segments was given to me. I wear the ring everyday. I can’t leave the house with out it, I can feel it as soon as I walk out the door. If it is missing, I go back and get it. Otherwise I feel off and disconnected for the day.

I have this horrible habit of playing with my rings. It is a nervous introverted habit that I will have to overcome. I am sure that my fidgeting is annoying to those in my presence, but it also endangers the safety of the rings!

When Starr was a synchronized swimmer, I remember dropping Grandmother’s ring in the pool area and it bounced along the concrete  and landed inches from one of the drains. Sadly, that scare didn’t stop me from unconsciously messing with my rings.

Saturday afternoon was a lovely day. I didn’t have plans, but decided not to waste the day and carted my book to the corner bar to spend some time on the deck, have a glass of wine maybe enjoy some dinner and watch the sunset. Just some alone time, enjoying the beauty of the day.

It was lovely and stress free. The weather was perfect, the sun was shining, but there was a cool-ish breeze. The local college football game was playing in the background, and they were winning. It was perfect, I was in mini heaven. I took a picture with my cell phone because I was so comfortable in the moment I thought I might or might not share it later…

I was surprised when a two piece band arrived and began to set up. I decided to stay a while longer and see if they were any good. They were.

In the meantime I started playing with my rings. Suddenly I didn’t have control over the ring anymore. I saw it hit the deck and slide in between the slats to the river rock some 12 to 15 feet below me. My heart stopped. Damn.

It took me a moment to breathe and then I quickly found the stairs to the rocks below. The sun had started to set and I couldn’t find it. I was down there for a long time before I decided that it was just too dark. Heartsick, I returned to my seat and worried. How could I have lost the only piece of jewelry I owned that was irreplaceable? Panicked, devastated and broken, I texted Starr and she said that she would help me look in the daylight Sunday afternoon and not to worry. Easier said than done.

The rocks were daunting. We started directly below where the ring dropped, but it could have bounced anywhere. It could easily have been under a rock. It was “OMG!!! How are we ever going to find this ring?!?”. Starr said later that she didn’t see how we were going to find it, it seemed pretty hopeless, but after less than 5 minutes of searching she FOUND it! Mostly hidden underneath a rock, there it was!

I cried.

I hope that I have learned my lesson and can stop this mindless ring play.

Somehow, I doubt it.