LOST WEDDING BAND HONEYMOON ISLAND, Fl. …FOUND!!
STEVE THOMAS DUNEDIN RING FINDER LOST A RING OR OTHER METAL VALUABLE? CALL ME ASAP ANYTIME (843) 995–4719
10 MINUTES FROM HONEYMOON ISLAND
Last Friday I was enjoying some beach time with family including our daughter who was visiting from Texas. It had been several days since Tropical Storm Eta had passed and the beaches had unfortunately lost a lot of sand, making for some good detecting. I had the usual questions from people I passed nearby including “find anything today?” and “what’s the most interesting thing you have found?” As I walked out towards the jetty to see if my son had caught any fish, I noticed a lady who was sitting in the edge of the water. As I got closer, I thought I heard the lady talking to herself but then I realized that she was speaking to me. The lady, who later introduced herself as Vilma, asked me if I helped people search for lost jewelry on the beach. I told her of course about what I did as a Ring Finder and asked her what she had lost. Vilma sadly explained to me that about two months ago she was on this same beach with her family including her recently wedded son Oscar. Oscar lost his white gold wedding band while helping a another family with their umbrella after the wind suddenly kicked up. Vilma’s family had searched several times for the ring but had not used a metal detector or service. Vilma had promised Oscar that she would somehow find the ring and she had prayed for God’s help.
I asked Vilma to show me the area where the ring was lost and she led me to a location no more than 200 feet away but close to the current dune area and a beach access. Vilma was very certain that this was where Oscar lost his ring but significant beach erosion had occurred from the storm. I began sweeping a grid area maybe 20 feet wide and 100 or so feet from the dune line towards the water. The area was somewhat rocky due to the storm removing several feet of sand. I reached the water, turned around and was headed back towards the dune line when I happened to run into Chip, the person who assisted with my last ring search several days before with his Garrett. He wished me luck and continued to move north up the beach. I continued my sweep toward the dune line and within 15 feet or so of the dune, my Equinox 600 registered a 11-12 target about 4” down. I know from previous experience that 11-12 could be a pull tab and a 13 could be either a bottle cap or a nickel but I had found gold in this range so I dug into the somewhat rocky sand. Incredibly, I uncovered the ring, held it up to Vilma, and said “is this what you are looking for?” She stared at the ring for a moment and then let out a scream of joy that could be heard by everyone reasonably close. Vilma ran to me, hugged my neck and wouldn’t let go. So much for social distancing, lol!! After many “thank yous” to me and to God, Vilma left the beach trying to figure out the best way to surprise Oscar with his ring. Afterwards, I actually had to explain to several groups of people who I had already spoken to about what I do as a Ring Finder that finding Vilma’s ring was not a set up because there is no fee for my services, only an optional reward!! I am convinced that God used me to answer Vilma’s prayers that day. I love my retirement job!