⏱️ 45 MINUTES TO VICTORY: From a Panicked Call to a Found Ring in the Rain! 🤝🎉
“Hi, my name is Ryan. I just found your services online. I’m vacationing at Old Orchard Beach, Maine and I was playing a game of volleyball. I actually lost my wedding ring… I wasn’t sure if you guys would be able to help me out. My phone number is 603-***-****. All right. Thank you for your time.” 📞
I immediately called Ryan back.
He told me that he and his family had just arrived in Old Orchard Beach, Maine about an hour earlier. Even though it was getting dark and raining lightly, Ryan’s children really wanted to go see the beach and ocean. 🌧️🌊
Ryan and his wife said, « Why not? We’re on vacation. » 🏖️
The family left for the beach. They walked into the square and entered the sand right next to the carousel at Palace Playland, across from the Old Orchard Beach And Pier. Once on the beach, they took a hard right toward the volleyball courts next to Brunswick Hotel and Condominiums . 🎡🎪
While playing volleyball, Ryan felt his wedding ring slipping off. He didn’t see where it landed, but he knew it was very close to where he had been serving the ball. The family started searching, but the ring was gone—buried in the sand, out of sight. 🏐⏳
Ryan asked if I could help him, and of course, I said yes.
He told me they were in town for multiple days and asked if I could come down in the morning.
Now, my first thought was to go down early around 5:00 AM. The weather forecast was for rain all night into Tuesday morning. However, I wasn’t sure if the town’s beach cleaning machine—the Surf Rake—would be going out. 🚜🌧️
The beach rake could actually scoop the ring up and throw it into the hopper, and it would be lost forever. If the rake didn’t scoop it, it could certainly move it down the beach and way out of the search area. Both scenarios make me cringe. 😬❌
I told Ryan that I don’t like taking chances like that. I needed to search tonight, before the beach rake came out in the morning. Even though it was now dark and raining, it would still be dark and raining at 5:00 AM. Either way, I would need a raincoat. 🧥
Ryan and I agreed to meet at the volleyball court in 20 to 30 minutes. I just needed to get my equipment loaded up and drive down there. With all the gear packed, there was only one thing left to do:
“CHERYL, HAVE YOU SEEN MY RAINCOAT?” 🗣️🧥
Once I arrived, I walked the beach from The Brunswick for a couple hundred yards to the first volleyball court closer to Palace Playland. As I was walking, I could see a figure in the distance with a flashlight. 🔦
Arriving at the volleyball court, I could see Ryan still searching the sand with his phone’s flashlight. 📱
Ryan showed me where he had been serving the ball and where he had run up to the net when he felt his tungsten wedding ring coming off. The search area was very small, unless the ring had gone flying into the dune grass or outside the playing area of the court. 🌾
I told Ryan I would search east to west, pole to pole, from the net back to where he had served from. If I didn’t find it on this side, I would search the other side the exact same way. If I didn’t find it then, I would start searching outside of the volleyball court entirely. 🧭
The area he had served from was only halfway back on the court. I knew it would only take me 6 to 8 minutes to search this area. Since we were already at mid-net, I started my search there, heading west toward the amusement rides. 🎢
The beach and volleyball court were very clean and void of any targets at all when I arrived. I swung just past where Ryan had served from. Not one target at all. Very unusual! 🧐
I then walked back to the net to search the area I hadn’t checked yet. If the ring wasn’t found here, I would start on the other side of the net. 🔍
Within 30 seconds of searching the area under the net, I received my first target. It was a scratchy tone, and I wasn’t confident it was the wedding ring. But I needed to do my due diligence and check it out. 🎧🔊
As I located the target with my pinpointer, I removed the sand by sweeping the pinpointer across it. Then:
“THAT’S IT! THAT’S MY RING!!!” 🤩💍
Ryan had seen the ring appear in the dark and in the sand before I did!
The excitement of my clients seeing their lost ring again never, ever gets old. Now Ryan could enjoy his family vacation without having to worry about finding his ring. 🎉🥳
From the time he called me to finding the ring was only about 45 minutes. Time is of the essence, and Ryan knew that. He called me as soon as he knew he and his family weren’t going to find it on their own. ⏱️👏
After a high five and a handshake, Ryan and I took a few photos on the wet, dark beach. Ryan thanked me again and again for coming out on such short notice and in those conditions. 📸🤝
No worries—it’s what we do.
If the situation were different, I may have waited until the morning. But I just didn’t want to take a chance with that beach cleaning machine. 🚜🙅♂️
Remember: “If it matters to you, it matters to us.” ❤️
I have the best job in the world. I love my job. 🤙🪙
📲 NEED HELP FINDING A LOST VALUABLE?
Have you or someone you know lost a ring, keys, or jewelry in the sand or surf? Don’t wait for the beach rake to bury it! Time is of the essence! ⏱️❌
📞 Call The Ring Finders of Maine ASAP and ask for Dennis: 207-423-3027
Lost your ring/cell phone/keys- Call ASAP 24/7 Service- Chris- 778-838-3463. Don’t wait until it’s too late.
