...of Rings and Things
Thank you all so much for the birthday wishes! #1 Son (and all of us) were incredibly touched and happy to receive them! :)
#1 Son received something big for his birthday: something very very cool from his grandmother, who, somehow, always finds the coolest cards and the greatest presents (although, to be honest, this time her son played a big part!). Here is #1 Son looking at me through the tripod:
And here he is looking through the eyepiece:
A telescope! And a fairly powerful one, too.
The other night (on his birthday) we went out around the corner to the elementary school and set it up, where we saw Jupiter and four of its moons. (Cool!) Last night, we went here:
and waited:
and my knitting waited with us:
and waited some more:
and then: wow. We saw Saturn and its rings! We could actually see the rings! It was totally and completely amazing (and I say that from a Star Trek geek point of view, remember). And we had to revisit Jupiter, of course. It was an awe-inspiring night. Wonderfully clear and lovely. From our perch on Geysers Road, we could see the Russian River, the vineyards, the lights of Santa Rosa spread out before us, and of course, the stars and planets. We left feeling tired but happy.
And then...misfortune struck.
On the way back home, I noticed my wedding ring was missing. It had been loose, and once I had felt it slipping off my finger when I was rummaging around in my knitting bag. We stopped the car. I searched through my bag and through the car. No ring. We continued home, where I dumped the entire contents of my bag into a box (no small feat, let me tell you). No ring. We searched the entire car. I felt sick. I kept telling myself "it's only a symbol, it's only a symbol." I was absolutely distraught. My husband, being able to tell that I probably wouldn't sleep at all, asked if I wanted to try going back up there to look for it with flashlights.
YES!
So back we piled into the car, the kids now in pajamas with their favorite blankets and stuffed animals, and my husband and I armed to the teeth with flashlights. I formulated plans: if we couldn't find it, I decided to rent a metal detector. I had already had a ring mishap before on a bike ride and I would find it this time as well! I said to myself as we drove "I am the ring; be the ring." (Am I a complete dork or what?!) And we decided to pull slowly into the turn-out, shining the headlights on the area in which we had been star gazing. And there was a glint. I could barely dare to hope that it would be this easy.
But it was! The flashlight revealed my ring lying patiently in wait. Joy!
I know it could have been replaced. How many times did I say that to myself?! But this was the one my best friend and husband placed on my finger at our wedding ceremony. This is the one that was engraved with our initials and the date of our wedding. Yes, it is a thing. But, to me, so very very important. And I was so incredibly happy to find it! And now the night will stand with the best memories of rings: both wedding and sky.
#1 Son received something big for his birthday: something very very cool from his grandmother, who, somehow, always finds the coolest cards and the greatest presents (although, to be honest, this time her son played a big part!). Here is #1 Son looking at me through the tripod:
And here he is looking through the eyepiece:
A telescope! And a fairly powerful one, too.
The other night (on his birthday) we went out around the corner to the elementary school and set it up, where we saw Jupiter and four of its moons. (Cool!) Last night, we went here:
and waited:
and my knitting waited with us:
and waited some more:
and then: wow. We saw Saturn and its rings! We could actually see the rings! It was totally and completely amazing (and I say that from a Star Trek geek point of view, remember). And we had to revisit Jupiter, of course. It was an awe-inspiring night. Wonderfully clear and lovely. From our perch on Geysers Road, we could see the Russian River, the vineyards, the lights of Santa Rosa spread out before us, and of course, the stars and planets. We left feeling tired but happy.
And then...misfortune struck.
On the way back home, I noticed my wedding ring was missing. It had been loose, and once I had felt it slipping off my finger when I was rummaging around in my knitting bag. We stopped the car. I searched through my bag and through the car. No ring. We continued home, where I dumped the entire contents of my bag into a box (no small feat, let me tell you). No ring. We searched the entire car. I felt sick. I kept telling myself "it's only a symbol, it's only a symbol." I was absolutely distraught. My husband, being able to tell that I probably wouldn't sleep at all, asked if I wanted to try going back up there to look for it with flashlights.
YES!
So back we piled into the car, the kids now in pajamas with their favorite blankets and stuffed animals, and my husband and I armed to the teeth with flashlights. I formulated plans: if we couldn't find it, I decided to rent a metal detector. I had already had a ring mishap before on a bike ride and I would find it this time as well! I said to myself as we drove "I am the ring; be the ring." (Am I a complete dork or what?!) And we decided to pull slowly into the turn-out, shining the headlights on the area in which we had been star gazing. And there was a glint. I could barely dare to hope that it would be this easy.
But it was! The flashlight revealed my ring lying patiently in wait. Joy!
I know it could have been replaced. How many times did I say that to myself?! But this was the one my best friend and husband placed on my finger at our wedding ceremony. This is the one that was engraved with our initials and the date of our wedding. Yes, it is a thing. But, to me, so very very important. And I was so incredibly happy to find it! And now the night will stand with the best memories of rings: both wedding and sky.
Labels: cute kids, General Musings and Ramblings, mushy stuff
posted by Romi at 12:04 PM
34 Comments:
Wow! :: happy dance :: To both finding the ring and the telescope.
Now, are you going to get it resized or at least put a thingy in the inside so that it would fit better?
Oh, I'm so glad you found it. My ring was a bit loose originally. We went on to Jamaica on our honeymoon and I lost it in the ocean! I felt it slip off, though, and I immediately dove after it, and I managed to grab it off the bottom just before it was swept away. I had mine sized down so that I could barely squeeze it on, and I cannot ever take it off. Literally--it's been on my finger for years and if it ever comes off, it will be with the aid of a saw.
great story, rosemary! :)
That ring is magical...wear it long and well.
wowie zowie - great story - if you don't want to resize it (but you probably should, but you might lose some of the inscription on the inside), you should just get yourself a beautiful necklace (for an anniversary present? ;-D) and slip the ring on it and always wear it around your neck ...
just a thought,
margaret
What a great picture with the tripod - obviously a thrilled kid!
I'm so glad you found your ring! A couple of years ago, I lost my wedding band, and my mother's engagement ring, when I was washing my hands - they just slipped off, which never happened before! Like you, I know they were things/symbols, but it still makes me feel sad. So I'm especially happy that your story ended differently.
I am so happy you found your ring! Wow, how lucky. It may be just a thing to some people, but it is a symbol and I know how it would hurt to lose it.
I love the story and the happy ending -- and I, a Star Trek geek from the original go-around, am completely smitten by the stars and sci-fi and all of it.
The ring is indeed magical and a wonderful symbol for your family now as well -- Hope does spring eternal.
PS -- I was going to bug you about finishing YOUR Peacock, but decided against it! ::wink::
What an awesome birthday gift! Telescopes are always wonderful, I mean who wouldn't want to see things few others get the opportunity to!?! What a nail biting story about your ring, I am soooo happy you found it! It may be a symbol but it still means a lot to a person. Congrats on finding it. Also, Happy Belated Birthday To Your son!
What an awesome b-day gift! And I am SO happy you found your ring--yeah, it can be replaced, but it's not The Ring, so I understand. Glad you found it!
That's a great story about a magical night. I once lost a bracelet at the beach and didn't realize it until we had left. We turned the car around so we could look for it. I went to spot in the sand where I thought we might have been, stuck my hand into the sand a few times and found the bracelet. It was truly strange.
Your son looks so happy! What a great day it must have been. Happy to read you found your ring too. I once lost the stone, the claws that keep the diamond in place had broken. I searched for it everywhere for a week, gave up, and found it one week later in the back pocket of my jeans! I could hardly believe my eyes.
That is really a wonderful gift for a little ( sorry, Big) boy.
When you are looking through it you must truly feel in another world !
What a relief to find your ring again, I can understand you would have been devestaded if you hadn't found it again. I Never take mine off and had it made a bit narrower because it was too loose. I also have a ring that is made of the two weddingrings of my mother and grandmother, names and dates still engraved in it. It slipped off my finger lately but I heard the clinck when it fell to the floor. I couldn't find it at first and kind of panicked, but there it was !
Now I have to have it narrowed too !
Hey, you got married one month before me ... same year! I'd have been devastated if I'd lost my ring ... delighted to hear you were able to find yours.
Great birthday gift - I'll have to keep that one in mind! I now have the 'coolest grandma' alive title (well, for this month anyway) for having found a certain elusive PS2 game which Josh was desperate to have for his birthday. Go grandmas!
The telescope is a fabulous present! Lucky you to be living in a place with such great visibility, too! Great story about the ring, such great luck that you found it! Sometimes magic happens!
For our first anniversary last year, we visited Edinburgh. DH went to grab his wallet out of his pocket, and it was cold enough outside that his fingers got smaller and his ring slipped off... and into a storm drain. Our B&B owner was great and able to pull strings to get it back, but DH was so scared and so distraught at the thought of losing it.
The telescope sounds really exciting, what a great gift!
Amazing rings and distressing rings: what a night.
I'm glad you had a happy ending with your ring. It's more than a symbol isn't it!
Wow, That ring story actually made me all goosebumpy with emotion..so glad you got it back.
I'm glad you found it too!! I think you're OK!
It was a good night!
me
Oh my lord, I had an experience like this with my wedding ring. I took it off to knead some dough, and then later on I couldn't remember where I put them, so I was tearing apart the sofa, then Rob checked my pants pocket and they were in there. Yay for finding your ring and yay for the great telescope experience! I would love to see Saturn's rings one of these days!
i know how much things like that mean (been in your shoes have i!)so glad you found your treasure!
Oh yikes Romi. How absolutely terrifying!
So glad you were able to find it.
I have my husband's grandmother's rings - circa 1942 - and I am always terrified of losing them.
To date the only thing I've had to go back to a turn out for is my hearing aid. Thank goodness it's bright blue. lol
As for the telescope! Score for grandma and son #1.
You need to bring him and the scope up to Robert Ferguson Observatory (www.rfo.org) for one of the public nights. He'll have a blast.
I had so much fun with telescopes as a kid!
I think, more importantly than the symbol of the ring itself, your husband is a great enough guy to take you out there with flashlights to look for it. Sounds like a keeper.
I am SO relieved that there was a happy ending to your story!
The first time I saw Saturn through a telescope, I was convinced that someone had cut it out of a magazine and taped it to the lens. ;-) It seemed a little unreal to me.
But the very coolest thing I ever saw was the shadow cast on the planet by one of Jupiter's moons. That may not sound like much, but to me, it was a SHADOW on another PLANET and I could SEE it. ;-)
I'm so glad you found your ring! If mine disappeared like that I'm not sure I would have been as calm as you managed to be. ;-)
Yeah for good presents and finding your ring! That was sure a lucky sighting in the darkness. :)
Thank the Goddess for both large and small favors! Good for you all for keeping the faith!
It was definitely many happy returns of the day!
Happy Birthday to Number One Son!
Transformation year to be sure.
You saw Saturns's rings! So jealous.
Whew! I'm so glad you found it! I'm sorry you even had to experience the anxiety, but thank goodness for the happy ending. Oh, and the star and planet gazing sounds amazing!
I have a ring that falls off occasionally... it drives my hubby nuts because we've had to look for it with flashlights a few times - one of them being on a trip to Bermuda when I was 7 mos pregnant. He searched while I stood there and cried for him to find it - he did!
I am so happy to hear that you found it. I would have been right there with you searching with flashlights. Good Hubby! Give him a pat on the back from me.
That is a gift that he will enjoy for years to come.
I am SO glad you found it. I have been there, done that. The kids and I were both in tears over it.
I lost it just as we were leaving on a 300 mile trip. I didn't notice until we were half way there.
After much crying, praying, frantic searching, and calling people at home to go look for it. I found it in my knitting bag. It should have gone the other direction, and out the door from the last place I remember seeing it.
I don't know how it came to be in the knitting bag, and I'm not going to ask.
I was just delighted to have it back.
Glad you found it. It is a beautiful Tiffany's Etoile, right? And, it isn't a thing so much as a symbol of love and totally worth driving back for. What an amazing thing to find it.
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