While up on a ladder, cleaning walls, during spring cleaning, I received the following voicemail,
“Yes, good morning, hello. My name is Louann, M*******, and I just wanted to give a quick call. I believe I lost a ring this morning walking my dog. Um, it fell off my necklace that came unclasped, and I just thought I’d give a call. I live on Franklin Street, Saco, Maine and so the walk was very short and um, Yes, if this is something that, um, you might be able to assist with. My number is 207-***-****. Thanks very much, and my name is Louann M*******. Thank you so much. Bye.”
I immediately called Louann back and she told me what has happened. As she was hurriedly getting ready for work, she put her necklace on that also contained a pendant and her mother’s cherished heirloom, gold wedding ring. Louann then took her dog, for a walk, just prior to leaving for work. While walking he dog, Louann felt the necklace, sliding down her neck. She grabbed her necklace, as it was going down her blouse and noticed that only the pendant was still on her necklace. Her mother’s wedding ring, was no where to be found. Louann searched the immediate area, where she felt the necklace, coming off her neck, but couldn’t find the ring. She then took the dog home, undressed and checked all her clothing, hoping the ring had become caught up, somewhere, in her clothing. No such luck. Louann then rewalked her route, carefully scanning the sidewalk, road and grass, of the many lawns. Again the ring was not found. Louann left for work and arrived late, for work. Once at work, she remembered about our services and looked our Facebook Page up and then called me. I told Louann that I lived just off of Saco Main Street, only 1 1/2 miles from her and would leave immediately. once Cheryl pardoned me from spring cleaning. Thankfully, Cheryl understands that rings lost in public spaces, are an extremely high priority. Time really is of the essence, when a ring is lost on a neighborhood sidewalk. There are always people out for a walk or run. There is also a school down the street and many students actually walk this sidewalk, to and from school. Louann and I were exchanging text messages, concerning the exact area, she had walked. I sent her an overhead view of the area, from Google Earth and marked the route out, that I thought she had described. Louann then sent me a view, of the exact route, she had taken, with her dog. Once Cheryl granted me a pardon , I headed to Louann’s house.
I arrived at her house in just 6-7 minutes and parked in her yard. Since her route was very short, I knew I wouldn’t need long to search. I could search the entire route, in just 20 minutes or so. I decided to search the grass, on the house side of the sidewalk as I walked northeast down Franklin. I would then search the strip of grass, between the sidewalk and street, on the return trip, to Louann’s house. I also decided that I would use my smallest metal detecting coil, the Minelab Manticore’s M8 Elliptical Coil. Because I would be searching an old, well traveled sidewalk and street, I knew there would be decades upon decades upon decades of trash, under the surface. There would be all kinds of small pieces of metal, like pull tabs, bottle caps, gum foil, etc.. The M8 Coil is only 8” wide by 11” long and will only detect what is under the coil. A larger coil would be picking up much more of the trash, with each swing of the detector, something I did not want to happen. The very small search area was going to be perfect, for this coil.
As I searched the lawns, in front of the houses, along the street, I couldn’t believe how many targets I was receiving. Everything from coins to trash were lining those yards. Because the ring was lost, just a few hours ago, I knew it would’t be under the surface. Every target, that was even close to gold, I would check, with my pinpointer, so as not to miss it. As I searched the grass, I was also visually searching, the sidewalk and street. After 10 minutes, I reached the turn around area, and the ring was still missing. I then headed back towards Louann’s house. This time I would be searching the grass strip, between the sidewalk and street. I was finding even more trash, in this area, than on the lawns. Amazing at just how much trash there is along the street and roads. Approximately 1/2 way back to Louann’s house, I finally heard an extremely loud low tone. As soon as I heard that repeatable low tone, I stopped and looked down it from of my coil and there sat a Gold Ring. Louann’s mother’s sentimental wedding ring. The ring was sitting, right nest to the sidewalk but was partially blended by the golden colored dead grass. Louann hadn’t seen it when she visually searched. I didn’t see it, while visually searching. Even after hundreds of rings being found, I am still amazed at how these things, just blend in with the environment. I made a short 30 second video and sent it to Louann, via text. Here is her reply,
“Omgosh ‼️‼️‼️💯🙌 Dennis! I am so happy, relieved, crying … i cannot thank you enough – i can come pick it up fr you later?🥹🥰Thanks SO very much – see you later. Also … that area where you found it, was same place i felt my chain falling from my around my neck, unclasped … as i was walking and i was frantic trying to locate the ring … 🤩🙌”
Louann came to my house, on her way home from work. I could see just how much this heirloom ring means to her, as I placed it in her hand. I could see her smile and maybe just a little misty eyed. There is no better feeling, than to help someone, get these cherished heirloom rings, back on their finger, of necklace, in this case. As I have said, in the past, every ring has a story. Louann’s mother’s ring has a long cherished family story. Now, a new chapter, in the story of this ring, has begun. I love my job, it’s the best job in the world.😀❤️🙏
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