The Ring

Don't let the title fool you. You are not about to read a tale of a Hobbit's journey to a magical mountain, nor are you going to learn of a haunted video tape by which you will perish within 7 days time.

Rather you will find a story of a girl, a boy and a sentimental diamond in yellow gold.

But first, a bit of background:

Last November I realized my wedding ring was missing. This isn't a new thing. It has happened a handful of times before. However, it has never been lost for long. In the past I usually found it within minutes of realizing it's disappearance. 

So in November, I was panicked to realize I hadn't seen my ring for a number of days.  I worried even more as the last recollections I had of it were sitting on my nightstand- fully accessible to little hands belonging to a boy that adores shiny things.

I looked for weeks. I searched the garbage. I searched under furniture, inside the freezer, at my Dad's home, my car, Thad's car, inside toy bins, all around the parameter of the washing machine, toilet and anywhere else I thought small hands might ditch such a prized treasure.

Nothing.

About 3 weeks ago I had a melt down. The reality of never finding my wedding ring set me into an emotional upheaval. I think I spent the better part of the day sobbing and being altogether unconsolable.

It made me think of all my memories associated with that ring: A nervous boy getting down on one knee (on two separate occasions actually, but that's a story for another day) hoping I would say "yes", the symbolism of my new life as a young bride, the fact that I gave birth to my two beautiful children while wearing it, but most importantly, it symbolized my belief that I will get to be with that nervous boy and the two beautiful children forever.

Shortly after my emotional frenzy, I accepted it was gone. 

The next week my sisters came over for lunch. We were sitting in my family room when I noticed Tabby pulling the back panel off my leather recliner. (When the seat is reclined the panel is given a little slack allowing you to see into the inside of the chair.) I told Tabs to leave it be. 

For once I'm glad she didn't listen. 

Within minutes, Tabby approached me with a "surprise". My ring. 

She had found it shoved to the bottom of the chair; a place I had never even thought to look or could have accessed with my adult hands. She also retrieved 3 Lightning McQueen cars, 2 other matchbox cars, a cookie, a few animal crackers and 2 coins. IKE!

Needless to say, if ever anything goes missing again, I will enlist the help of Sherlock Tabs and now know the first place to start our search.