Wedding Ring Blues...

[johnj45586]

This morning while detecting in Laguna I was approached by a very axious young man. He asked if my metal detector could detect a gold ring. When I said yes he asked if I would help find his friend's gold wedding band. I answered, "absolutely!". Finding a gold wedding band would make for a great hunt on what was an otherwise boring morning.
It turned out he was sitting on the top step of the last steps before the hotels from the boardwalk to the beach sand. It was 2:30 am, he and his friend had closed a local bar, both were very drunk. His friend was standing on a middle step proclaiming how much he loved his wife. To demonstrate his love he pulled the symbol of their marriage from his pocket and dropped it on the wooden steps. Both heard it hit a step then it was gone. Apparently both had searched the sand under the steps with no success.
I went to the all metal mode of my ACE 250 and scanned the sand under the steps with no luck. I then scanned all around the steps, twice as far as the ring could possibly have reasonably bounced, no ring. I scooped sand from under the steps and spread it out and searched through it, still no ring. I searched again in the jewelry mode. I spent about 1 hour trying every trick I could with settings, scooping sand and crawling around under the steps. I finally had to give up. It was really tough to admit defeat.
As I was walking back to where my MDing had been interrupted I saw another person using a MD where I had stopped. I approached them and asked about their detector. It turned out to be a Fisher. It looked like a good detector/coil setup. I explained about the ring and asked if he would like to try his luck with a different detector. He would, and did.
On the way over to the steps he asked me about how often I hunted Laguna. I explained that I hunt it regularly, both to clean the trash out and to treasure hunt. He commented that it was very clean (nothing could be found). We talked about Diver's Cove (which I also hunt) and he was skunked there also.
The Fisher had no better luck than I did at finding the ring. It was kind of neat that it didn't show-up my ACE 250, but still it would have been better if one of us had found the wedding band.
Most of my detecting time was spent looking for the ring or watching the guy with the Fisher detector look for the ring.
I only had time for a few passes through the sand, where the Fisher had already covered. I found 2 Quarters, 4 dimes, 3 nickels, 5 pennies and a cheap steel earring. I also found a penny that looks as if it were hit by a lawnmower. It is badly bent and there is a chunk knocked out where the date should be.
Now for a comment. I have professional degrees in Physics and Psychology. As surprising as it might seem, the two areas of study have more in common than not. One of the similarities is analysis.
Going back to the story we see one friend sitting on a top step and the other extolling his great love for his wife.
He pulls the wedding band from his pants pocket to show it as proof of his love.
I see something completely different. These two are on a business trip (away from home) and they had been hitting the bars. What do you think made the person who lost the ring, remove the ring and put it in his pocket? Most likely he was in a situation where a ring would be a hinderance to a plan. I would guess there were young ladies at the bar(s) that he was chatting up.
So later he pulls the ring from his pocket and ...
Along came kharma!
The kharma is so strong the ring cannot be found.
I wonder what the story to the wife will be. There will probably be some really wild explanation of how it managed to slip from his finger.
From what I heard from the friend that was trying to find the ring, the wife has an extremely strong personality.
All I expected this morning was some exercise and maybe a little trash clearance in preparation for the weekend. I got an interesting morning and an object lesson in kharma.
Happy hunting to all this weekend.

John - the first thing I thought when I began to read your story was "that dumb you-know-what doesn't deserve to have his ring found for him." Any man who pulls his wedding ring off before going in to close down the bars has a really warped idea of what it means to love his wife.

But this is just one wife's opinion LOL

[KellycoChick]

Originally Posted by johnj45586

....On the way over to the steps he asked me about how often I hunted Laguna. I explained that I hunt it regularly, both to clean the trash out and to treasure hunt. He commented that it was very clean (nothing could be found). We talked about Diver's Cove (which I also hunt) and he was skunked there also.......

I don't know if you're into blogging, but your comment there made me think of this article I read on TreasureHunting.com. I don't think people associate MD'ing with helping keep the beaches and environment clean, but your story is just another good example! Check this link out if you feel like it...
Treasure Hunting - A Metal Detector Enthusiast's Guide

And I feel bad bad bad for that guys wife. If he wants to fool around he shouldn't be committed to one person.

[pris]

I agree. Was thinking the same thing. I'm sorta happy you didn't find it. Maybe another detectorist found it and will be able to sell it to someone who truly appreciates a committment.

HH

[johnj45586]

Originally Posted by KellycoChick

I don't know if you're into blogging, but your comment there made me think of this article I read on TreasureHunting.com. I don't think people associate MD'ing with helping keep the beaches and environment clean, but your story is just another good example! Check this link out if you feel like it...
Treasure Hunting - A Metal Detector Enthusiast's Guide

I left a message on the blog. Thanks for the link. I think it is important to remove litter as well as the metal trash from our beaches. I guess it goes hand-in-hand that the people who carelessly lose the treasure we find also are the ones who leave the trash.
But it seems more like kharma. The more trash/litter I pick up, the better and more often my finds. In any case, a hunt is never wasted. I get needed exercise and the beaches get cleaned up.

[MinelabMan]

Originally Posted by johnj45586

He pulls the wedding band from his pants pocket to show it as proof of his love.
I see something completely different. These two are on a business trip (away from home) and they had been hitting the bars. What do you think made the person who lost the ring, remove the ring and put it in his pocket? Most likely he was in a situation where a ring would be a hinderance to a plan. I would guess there were young ladies at the bar(s) that he was chatting up.
So later he pulls the ring from his pocket and ...

My thoughts exactly, if something like that ever happens to me, I think I'll ask him for a phone # in case I find it another day. From there the possiblities are endless...."found your ring, give me your address"....."Dear MRS"......

I always take away my trash also, I've seen people spend the whole day on the beach and get up and leave, leaving empty cans, bottles and general trash when a trash can is less than 50 yards on their way off the beach

[Buster]

I was asked one time at the beach to find a lost ring for a lady that had lost the ring from her oily finger right before a storm came in. I looked really hard for that ring for over 3 1/2 hours. Found a whole lot of change but no ring. I did get her number to call if I found it the next day . Never did find that one. As for the guy removing his ring to go into the bar to go hunting around. If you are dumb enough to play that game you shouldn't have a ring on a finger to begin with. I bet he had some explaining to do when he got home. Smart guy that one. Buster

[Zman]

I have to agree with all.First thing that grabbed my attention, wedding band in pocket.Hmmmm. Great story, gotta love Kharma. Maybe he should start making a list and the first should "fidelity"

[gordiesgirl]

Kharma in this case paid a visit to the right person. Unfortunatly he has probably has a starry eyed bride waiting for him and his story when he gets home. I am glad you did not find that ring.

[EBCIII]

That is a very good story on Kharma ( I like to refer to it as payback). We all know that payback is a *&^%$, Beale.