25 July 2026.
Sometimes ‘when it rains it pours’. It began yesterday afternoon with a call from Helene. She was deeply upset about the loss of a wedding ring in the water at Old Silver Beach and she asked if I could come search for it. I arrived within about 15 minutes and listened to her story. Helene, her daughter Bella, and her companion were taking a swim out to the buoy centered offshore when the ring in question, which was on Bella’s hand, slipped off in about belly- to chest-deep water. The particularly poignant element of this story is that the ring was incredibly special, not because of any intrinsic value but because of its source. It had belonged to Helene’s mother, who had passed away less than a week ago. Needless to say, this was a heartbreaking tragedy, even more so than in many other situations where I’ve been called for help.
After determining the facts about the likely location of the loss, I followed Bella into the water to begin the search. Unfortunately, it quickly became apparent that the water depth at the presumed location was well over the 6’ top of my head, and a search at the current level of the incoming tide would be impossible. I headed back to shore, where we had a discussion that suggested the loss may have been somewhat closer to shore and thus in shallower water. I pursued a search there, working from deep to shallow, until I was clearly out of the loss area. It was nearly high tide.
Back ashore, I reviewed the story once more to get the best possible information about where the ring could be. I was determined to make a recovery as soon as possible, especially because Old Silver is a popular beach for metal detecting and the ring could easily be found by someone else and ‘vanish forever’. Fortunately, the next-coming low tide would be in the middle of the night – a very unlikely time for anyone to be detecting – and the following low would be late morning today, meaning that I could search fairly early this AM on an outgoing tide. I told Helene to have faith, and that I’d be back early this AM to continue the search.
This AM I arrived at the beach about 0745, set out a pair of buoys to mark an edge of the search area (I use half-gallon milk cartons anchored with heavy lead fishing weights otherwise found while detecting), and began my search. It only took about 4 swaths and 20 minutes before I had that beautiful ring in my scoop, in chest-deep water. Relief, happiness, maybe a tinge of disbelief – I reveled in those special emotions that make it so satisfying to me to pursue this effort of helping folks when their spirits are low. But the best part of course was yet to come – a phone call to Helene with the good news, a meet-up with her and Bella at the beach, and the ensuing joyful, shared emotions and conversation. This was a hugely satisfying start to the day, but there was more yet to come! Read on in the following posts.
The precious wedding ring.
A very happy daughter.
We can not thank you enough for showing up so quickly and then going back early the next morning. Everything you wrote captured what took place – while the ring is only an object the loss of it was heartbreaking given the timing and more importantly the comfort my daughter was finding in wearing her Mimi’s ring. I couldn’t contain my tears and had to hand the phone to my cousin when you called Saturday morning. I’m still in disbelief that you found it and when I catch a glimpse of it on my daughter’s hand I am reminded not only of my mom but the good that does exist in this world. Thank you again.
Helene – I was honored and thrilled to be able to find that special ring for you and Bella. It was a wonderful way to start off recoveries for the summer season and I consider it a gift that I will never forget. All the best – Brian.