Lost wedding ring: 'I don't think it was coincidence - it was a miracle'
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (AP) — Alair Schroeder screamed when she saw her naked index finger where her diamond wedding ring should have been.
She'd spent that fine July day swimming in Redfish Lake near Stanley where she and her husband, Dana Schroeder, celebrate their anniversary each year.
The diamond sparkled on Alair Schroeder's finger every day since her wedding day 38 years ago.
But that night, back at the cabin, she realized her ring was gone.
"It's amazing how much a thing can mean to you," she said last week in her Ucon home.
A midnight search crew zig-zagged the beach and shallows with headlamps without luck.
The Schroeders left two days later but returned with friends, scuba gear and an underwater metal detector.
Hearts jumped every time the detector picked up traces of metal.
Optimism fell when each hit on the detector turned out to be a fishing hook, a broken necklace or coins adding up to 17 cents.
Before returning home empty-handed, Alair Schroeder looked at the lake and night sky from her balcony, disheartened.
"I love Stanley. It's my place of renewal," she said. "I looked out on the balcony and thought, 'This isn't my special place anymore.' "
In August, Amy Harris of Nampa was wading in Redfish Lake when she saw a metallic glint at the bottom.
She reached into the cool water after what she guessed was a bolt or bracket to give to her sons.
She fished out a diamond wedding ring instead.
"I was sick to my stomach," Harris said. I thought, 'Someone is so sad right now.' "
After returning home, Harris posted an ad on Craigslist looking for the owner, but it went unanswered.
Several months later with no way to find the owner, Harris decided to sell the ring.
Her husband, Jody Harris, called an old jeweler friend to quote the ring's value.
As chance would have it, that jeweler was Richard Black of Ingram's Fine Jewelers in Idaho Falls — who had sold the Schroeders a replacement diamond ring and had heard the story of the lost original.
"Did you find it at the dog beach on Redfish Lake?" Black asked Jody Harris in a text message.
"Yes," Jody Harris responded. "How did you know that?"
Diamond rings sparkled on each of Alair Schroeder's ring fingers last week.
A smile adorned her face.
"People tell me there were so many happy coincidences that had to happen," she said. "I don't think it was coincidence. I think it was a miracle."
The Schroeders offered Amy and Jody a reward when the ring was returned in November.
They declined.
Amy Harris hoped her reward is karma that could help her wedding ring find its way home if it's ever lost.
"Really, it was a simple thing. I just found the ring," Amy Harris said. "It's a very humbling feeling knowing the world is so small you can be part of something that can make somebody so happy."
___
Information from: Post Register,
She'd spent that fine July day swimming in Redfish Lake near Stanley where she and her husband, Dana Schroeder, celebrate their anniversary each year.
The diamond sparkled on Alair Schroeder's finger every day since her wedding day 38 years ago.
But that night, back at the cabin, she realized her ring was gone.
"It's amazing how much a thing can mean to you," she said last week in her Ucon home.
A midnight search crew zig-zagged the beach and shallows with headlamps without luck.
The Schroeders left two days later but returned with friends, scuba gear and an underwater metal detector.
Hearts jumped every time the detector picked up traces of metal.
Optimism fell when each hit on the detector turned out to be a fishing hook, a broken necklace or coins adding up to 17 cents.
Before returning home empty-handed, Alair Schroeder looked at the lake and night sky from her balcony, disheartened.
"I love Stanley. It's my place of renewal," she said. "I looked out on the balcony and thought, 'This isn't my special place anymore.' "
In August, Amy Harris of Nampa was wading in Redfish Lake when she saw a metallic glint at the bottom.
She reached into the cool water after what she guessed was a bolt or bracket to give to her sons.
She fished out a diamond wedding ring instead.
"I was sick to my stomach," Harris said. I thought, 'Someone is so sad right now.' "
After returning home, Harris posted an ad on Craigslist looking for the owner, but it went unanswered.
Several months later with no way to find the owner, Harris decided to sell the ring.
Her husband, Jody Harris, called an old jeweler friend to quote the ring's value.
As chance would have it, that jeweler was Richard Black of Ingram's Fine Jewelers in Idaho Falls — who had sold the Schroeders a replacement diamond ring and had heard the story of the lost original.
"Did you find it at the dog beach on Redfish Lake?" Black asked Jody Harris in a text message.
"Yes," Jody Harris responded. "How did you know that?"
Diamond rings sparkled on each of Alair Schroeder's ring fingers last week.
A smile adorned her face.
"People tell me there were so many happy coincidences that had to happen," she said. "I don't think it was coincidence. I think it was a miracle."
The Schroeders offered Amy and Jody a reward when the ring was returned in November.
They declined.
Amy Harris hoped her reward is karma that could help her wedding ring find its way home if it's ever lost.
"Really, it was a simple thing. I just found the ring," Amy Harris said. "It's a very humbling feeling knowing the world is so small you can be part of something that can make somebody so happy."
___
Information from: Post Register,
This is such a great story. I was touched when Miss Glint said "somebody is so sad right now" because it truly is a sad feeling.
Â
My husband loses/changes his wedding band CONSTANTLY. He wears the Tungsten ones and he is able to get them cheap on ebay - so he's lost his while we've floated the river...but that never bothers me. If I lost my ring(s) however...I would be in big trouble because that isn't easily replaced on ebay!
Â
Wow! Great story! My wife would murder me if I lost my ring!
Amy is an honest sort of person that has created good Karma in her own circle. It's a fun story.
Â
(On the aside...I really feel sorry for the guys whose names are Dana and Jody. They should shorten their names a bit more...Dan and Joe.)
So, who wears their wedding ring on their INDEX finger?
@Country Girl  That's what I thought, too! : )
A convergence of some very nice people. Glad that she got her ring back and hope that those that found it have all kinds of good karma.
"Amy Harris hoped her reward is karma that could help her wedding ring find its way home if it's ever lost."
(from the story)
Â
Well, Amy, I'd say you did the honest and kind thing that eventually led to the ring being returned to its rightful owner... and that probably earned you some really good Karma..! Â Â Good luck to you..! Â :-)
I once caught a diamond ring TTTTTTTTHHHHHHHHHIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSS big.
Dang it!!
Â
I missed another one!
Â
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2255688/The-worlds-best-father-Generous-Chinese-businessman-provides-100million-dowry-daughter-ahead-lavish-wedding.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
@Kushfan Isn't she Miss July in the OFFBEAT calendar?
Looks like you may have been rolling one too many.
^rolling
@Kushfan Good job of rolloing that "R"
I hear she's a bit rrrrrandy.
@beernpizza Go ahead. She is actually very pretty
 @Kushfan now I know not to open the link and just take your word for it.
And August. One month couldn't hold her.
I once bought a cubic zirconia ring, but it was much smaller than that.