This is the last, of three rings, I recovered and returned, on Friday, July 11th.
The previous evening, Thursday July, 10th, I received a text message, from Ray W., in Stratham, New Hampshire. Ray is a fellow metal detectorist and also helps people recover their lost rings and has many recoveries, to his credit. Ray told me that he saw a posting, about a lost wedding ring, at Kinney Shores, Maine, in Saco, Maine. Ray said the wedding ring was lost, on July 4th, on the beach, near a lifeguard stand. Ray said he was an hour away from Kinney Shores Beach but I live in Saco and am just 4 miles down the road. Ray asked if he could contact the woman, who lost her wedding ring and give her my information. Absolutely give her my information. I love making recoveries, in my hometown. I told Ray that I was already booked in Ogunquit, Maine, very early the next morning but if she contacted me, I would be able to get to Kinney Shores, late morning or afternoon. Ray said he would contact her right then and give her my contact information.
So, after a successful recovery, in Ogunquit, Maine: Beautiful Place by the Sea, I came home and started running errands around Saco and then to Kennebunkport, Maine. While in the Town of Kennebunkport, I was contacted about a lost wedding ring, in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. I told them I would be there in an hour or so. I was then contacted again, about a lost wedding ring, in Kinney Shores. The woman identified herself as Toni. Toni told me that she was given my information, from Ray and asked if I could help her find her wedding ring, of 53 years. Wow, 53 years she has been wearing that ring and I really wanted to find it for her. I told Her I should be able to meet her there between 2:00pm and 3:00pm. She said that was great and to just call her, when I started over to Kinney Shores. Toni lived only 10 minutes away and would go straight over and meet me, next to the Lifeguard stand.
Once I arrived back in the area, Cheryl and I immediately headed to Old Orchard for the lost wedding ring there. Thankfully, I recovered that one in 5 to 7 minutes. As soon as I got in my vehicle, I called Toni and told her I was heading to Kinney Shores. She said that she would be right there. From the lost ring in Old Orchard Beach Maine, to Toni’s lost ring, in Kinney Shores, is less than 1 1/2 miles from each other. I wasn’t complaining about that.
Once I arrived, Toni arrived just a few minutes later. I asked her what had happened, as to how the ring was lost. Toni told me that she and her husband had come to Kinney Shores on the evening of July 4th, to watch the fireworks. While waiting for the fireworks to start, her engagement and wedding rings were bothering her finger. She took both rings off and rubbed her finger. As she was putting both rings back on, someone close to her lit some fireworks or some firecrackers. They were extremely close and very loud. This has startled Toni so much, that she kind of jumped away, just as she was putting the rings back on her finger. Toni’s engagement ring made onto her finger but the wedding ring of 53 years, fell into the sand, disappearing. She and her husband immediately started searching for it but were not able to locate the ring. She even went back in the daylight, sifting the sand, from the area, to no avail. She thought it was gone forever and just before their 54th Anniversary, just a month away, in August. Man, I really want to find this extremely sentimental ring. She also told me the ring had diamonds on it.
I told her my concern is that a ring, missing for 7 days, on the beach don’t usually end well. The area is metal detected by other Detectorist’s and it may have been found already. One thing going in her favor is that this section of beach doesn’t get cleaned by the beach rake. I could tell it didn’t because of the abundance of seaweed. I started grid searching, south to north, parallel to the water. My first grid line resulted in just a few pieces of foil and aluminum pull tabs. I turned around and headed north but the result was the same, no ring. I turned and headed south again and after just a few feet, I received a signal that I liked the sound of. I took my pinpointer out and started wiping the sand away, until I saw GOLD. I had found her lost wedding ring, after a full week, in the sand. As I stood up, I was playing coy, making a face of disappointment. Toni saw my face and body language and asked, “What’s that mean?” Since I hadn’t taken the ring out of the sand, I just motioned for her to come over and take a look. As she looked, I pointed to the ring but so little of it was showing, Toni wasn’t sure what she was looking at. I reached into the sand, pulled her ring out and all joy broke loose. High fives and hugs, along with congratulations from those around us broke out. Toni was so happy to have her precious wedding ring, of almost 54 years back, just before her upcoming anniversary. I was truly surprised that after 7 days, the ring was right where she thought it would be. Toni is sleeping well again and after 3 recoveries and returns, starting at 3:00am, this morning I will be sleeping well also. It the best feeling in the world to return a lost item, to the rightful owner and when you have three, it is euphoria. So with three rings returned today, do I call it a “Hat Trick”, “Triple Play”, “Three Ring Circus” “Three-Peat” or something else. Let me know what you would call it. Either way, I have the best job in the world. ❤️🙏
We would like to wish Toni and her husband an early HAPPY 54th ANNIVERSARY. Congratulations! ❤️🍾🥂❤️
