Lost & Found

A story of a beloved class ring, the power of the internet, and engaging with the world around you.

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My partner, Darr, and I have always been on opposite sides of the spectrum when thinking of life beyond the context of our mutually accepted reality. Where I lean into the mystical and unexplained, Darr—a high school science teacher—depends on and looks toward our academic systems and methods to paint his accepted reality; in other words, if science hasn’t explained it already, it eventually will. And while I respect it, it does feel suffocatingly linear. I prefer my world to be magical in some regard.

That all said, when in 2021 Darr’s class ring went missing during a road trip across the states, my response of, “If it’s meant to be with you, it will find you again,” rightfully pissed him off. Beautifully engraved and encrusted with sapphire, I had always known how much Darr’s ring—received after graduating from the University of San Diego—meant to him. He wore it regularly, and I often caught him admiring it on his finger in life’s slow moments.

During our stop in Memphis, Tennessee, he realized the ring was missing. The last place we both remembered seeing it was before we dove into a pile of BBQ, and while I tried to remain hopeful, I knew the most reasonable explanation was that the ring’s fate likely lay at the bottom of the restaurant’s dumpster.

We tore apart Darr’s car not once, not twice, but three times—even going as far as to remove some of the seats and paneling of his car doors in case the ring had somehow found itself in a crevice of the vehicle we didn’t know existed. Darr’s determination faded, and the ring became something to angrily reminisce about. I would say what I always did—that maybe it would turn up someday—and Darr would shake his head in frustrated annoyance.

Five years went by, and a few weeks ago, Darr received a call.

“Is this Darr Shealy?” a woman’s voice said on the other end of the phone.

“Yes,” he replied.

“I think my mom has your class ring,” she said.

And she did.

According to our mystery caller, the ring had found its way to Florida. Apparently, the woman’s mother had found it in a parking lot or baseball field and, without noticing his name engraved on the inside, had kept it all these years at the bottom of her jewelry box—hoping to one day find its rightful owner. While helping her mom clean her home, the daughter noticed the unique name engraved on the inside of the piece of jewelry and was able to find his cellphone number online.

Which leads us to a few weeks later, when we received a small package and letter in the mail. It reads as so:

Hi Darr,

I hope this letter finds you well. First off let me start by saying, I am so sorry it has taken this long to find you and get this to you. When I first found your ring, we tried to find you through Facebook (mind you I am admittedly saying that I am not the best with technology nor social media) with no luck. I then put the ring in the depths of my jewelry box. I currently purchased a new jewelry box and in the process of going through my things I saw your ring and asked my niece Sarah for help finding you. She found you in less than 10 minutes lol. I know you wanted to know where I found it and I am sorry I cannot fill in the blank for you on that, although I am only 52, my memory stinks. I want to say possibly: a beach, a baseball field (which I lived on since my son played for so many years), or it could have been a parking lot. I asked my husband for assistance with this, and he also could not remember. The important thing is that I kept it because I knew one day that I would possibly be part of one of those stories that you hear about in the news or at least I hoped. A connection between two strangers that for some odd reason the universe made happen. Anyways enough rambling, I am glad we found you and were able to get this back to you. Good luck in all your future endeavors and be well.

Sincerely,

Elisa

Call it a coincidence, call it fate, but the ring did eventually find its way home, even if it did take half a decade; having its own adventure from Tennessee to Florida before making its way back to us in Colorado. I especially love what she said about the universe - certainly our paths and Elisa’s were meant to cross in this way. My takeaways are these:

1.) To engage in the world around you is to look for magic in your everyday life. A woman we’ve never met from Florida held onto what was junk to her, but which she knew to be a treasure to someone else, simply for the potential joy of being a part of “one of those fun news stories.” It’s a simultaneously unserious and silly, yet deeply impactful practice—one that can only come when someone is present, engaged, and interacting with the world around them. It’s a beautiful story of life imitating life.

2.) A steadfast belief that nothing is ever truly lost until it’s forgotten. Whether it’s a relationship, a dream, or a class ring lost in the near but distant past—what’s lost will find its way back to you if it’s meant to be.