The Ring, B. Wieser (C) 2022
In 2019 my family went on vacation to Ixtapa Mexico. My wife Lisa had booked a suite at Club Med as our friends recommended the rooms, private pool, and bar. They were nicer than the main hotel. It started as a great vacation. I booked a fishing trip with Nicho (who had taken us fishing before), inviting my friend Antonio who used to work at Club Med, and my boys. Antonio ended up not coming as he was working. He had come on our previous trip when my mother Joan was with us (2012). My wife and daughter would join us later after fishing and we’d celebrate “for Joan” as she passed away in 2018.
My mother loved bright, patterned clothing and crazy hats. The last time we went to Ixtapa Island they prepared the fish we caught in three styles. Mum had a lot of fun and we ordered pina coladas that were served in carved pineapples looking like Aztec heads. So after picking up my ladies on the beach at Club Med, we boated to Ixtapa island, as we all wanted to snorkel after eating. We set up under an umbrella on the lagoon side; there were many tropical fish in the lagoon. The guide took the fish to be prepared Tiritas de Pescado (like ceviche but cooked in lime juice), pan fried, and breaded. We ordered the same pineapple drinks to toast my mother. Lisa went to snorkel while we waited for food.
While Lisa was in the water, she thought she would change which fingers that her wedding and engagement rings were on so as to not lose them. The rings matched with a celtic knot theme, and the engagement ring had 3 diamonds, of which one was special. One of the diamonds, and some of the gold, came from an engagement ring I found in the playground behind my house when I was about ten years old. No one ever claimed the ring, and my mother held onto it until Lisa and I got engaged, at which point she reminded me of the treasure I found. Lisa’s ring was special for the gold too, as it contained gold from rings from my mother, and Lisa’s mother.
So when Lisa changed the rings the engagement ring slipped out of her hand because of the sunscreen and water, into the surf and Lisa could not catch it. She searched frantically and called to us on shore. My kids and I went to look. Our guide Nicho also dove in to search, getting gear from the snorkel guy. Some others joined too but we could not find it. It was claimed by the ocean. The fellow who did massages on the beach said losing rings happened before, and he and Nicho offered to continue to watch for it. We offered a $500 US reward for its return.
Lisa’s heart was broken. We couldn’t eat the fish. We couldn’t drink the special drinks. We left, saddened. This was not the first time we lost a ring in Ixtapa. On a previous trip, my wedding ring fell off while I was getting out of a kayak and washed into the sandy waves. I spread out my arms, knowing that the wash back might bring it to touch my arm as I could not see it, and I was lucky it did. I was so lucky and discussed with Lisa that I would always leave my ring behind (or in the room) in future vacations.
When we returned to Washington we discovered the ring was not insured. Lisa was so lost without it so I called the Goldsmith’s in Calgary where the ring was custom made. Tina Ross, the previous owner’s daughter, still had the drawings of the original ring. I had the ring re-made, but as it was a custom ring and we didn’t have good pictures of the original, the replacement was not the same. I gave Lisa the new ring as an early anniversary present.
Three years later, after the sorrow and isolation of COVID, we received an email from Patricia Mancilla Osorio, Nicho’s daughter, with a photograph. She introduced herself and mentioned Nicho had never stopped asking about the ring to the island locals. Nicho heard a ring was found. It was Lisa’s engagement ring!
We wrote back and forth with Patricia, who spoke with her father about how we could get get the ring. Nicho wanted the reward to go to the finder. Word came back that the finder didn’t want 10,000 pesos ($500 USD), but wanted 20,000 pesos. Nicho was upset. Patricia and Nicho could not get further pictures of the ring. As I felt language would be an issue as it was turning into a negotiation if not extortion, I asked my friend Antonio to help. I would send him the money, as I didn’t feel comfortable bringing that amount to Mexico, nor did I have a means to get pesos in Washington (as my banks were in Canada and Georgia). The “diver” who found the ring would not answer Antonio’s calls or return his messages. He told Nicho he would hold on to the ring until we came to Mexico, and would only return it to the owner.
Lisa was so excited that the “universe had returned her ring” that she wanted to book a trip to Ixtapa immediately. Our children’s school spring break was coming, and it was an opportunity to take an unplanned vacation. She called our friend Mary, who immediately wanted to join the expedition. Mary shared she had timeshare options in Ixtapa we could book (as Club Med was overly expensive.) After some very creative and frustrating travel planning, Lisa and Mary found airfare and hotel options. Antonio recommended El Dorado Pacifico (as it turns out, his wife Ana had family who worked there).
I opened an account with a local bank (that was a small adventure in itself) and purchased pesos. They took a few days to arrive, but they did arrive in time for the trip. Nicho liked strong coffee and dark chocolate, so I made sure he received a “thank you” package with both in advance.
The day after we arrived I called Nicho to arrange a fishing trip and possibly recover the ring. Patricia called later that day to say the diver could meet us at the hotel the next day. She would be there in case anything went sideways. At 6pm Tuesday we were to meet; as it happens my friend Antonio was also available with his lovely family to come to dinner that day. We met Patricia and waited.
At 630pm a truck pulled up with two young men, one named “Daniel”. He presented the ring and Lisa cried and thanked him. I passed him an envelope with 20k pesos. Daniel and Patricia spoke a bit. Lisa hugged Daniel, and he and his friend left. The ring was back.
During the conversation Patricia had with Daniel, she learned many things and some she disclosed after the young men left. Apparently, Daniel was at the beach the day Lisa lost the ring. He saw a wave hit her and take the ring. He found it on a snorkel class three days after it was lost. He did not report it, as he was going to sell it. He heard there was a reward so thought it would be valuable. He “didn’t feel right” about selling it, so held on to it for three years, and only decided to tell the masseuse as he had caught COVID and needed the money. Apparently Nicho and him had an argument about “the right thing to do”. Nicho did not want to be there when we retrieved the ring because “all young people care about today is what they can get”. Patricia mentioned Daniel was going to ask for more, but she explained that we wanted the ring’s return for sentimental reasons. Speculation aside, we were all grateful the situation ended as it did with all parties happy. Lisa has not taken off the ring for more than a few moments since.
A few days later I, Antonio, Ron (Mary’s husband), and my daughter Somea went fishing with Nicho. We caught a few nice fish; I got to reel in an Amber Jack (toughest fish I’ve fought), and Ron pulled in a Red Snapper (that became Antonio’s Sunday dinner.)
Next day we invited Nicho and Patricia for lunch in Zihuatanejo at Carmelitas Cafe as Antonio’s wife Ana worked there and we had heard very good things. As it turns out, Patricia and Ana vaguely knew each other as their children were in preschool together. It was also Nicho’s 75th birthday! Nicho had some adversity that affected his memory, but he didn’t forget about Lisa’s ring. For that we are eternally grateful.
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