So far. Admittedly, I need practice using this thing and preferably not at twilight. But it’s all good. I have time.

And a lot of patience.

The metal detector, that is.

Let the hunt begin.

I spent a lot of Sunday trying not to think about the missing ring, but it was hard not to notice. Every time I picked up my camera or touched a metal railing, the familiar click was gone. It was heart-wrenching.

We had a friend checking on the pups since we knew we’d be gone almost 24hrs. Our friend JV and her boyfriend E took it upon themselves to rake the area where the ring flew off my hand. E even recreated my motion with a quarter and is very sure the ring went over the fence.

Which is exactly what I was and am afraid of… for a variety of reasons. The family next door never answered the door and is not friendly. I don’t want to trespass in their yard but I don’t know what to do if they don’t answer.

I ordered this metal detector and another coil that is gold-attuned. But it may not help if the ring really is on the other side. I’ve got to get my neighbors to let me in their yard.

A friend of mine recently posted a story on Facebook. She’d heard it on NPR.

A man was traveling for work in India and had to take anti-malaria medication. In in a rare side effect, he lost most of his long term memory. Everyone was a stranger to him- friends, family, all of his long term relationships ceased to exist. He was engaged to be married. During his recovery, when introduced to his fiancee, not only did he not love her- he could not conceive of loving her.

All of this generated discussion about the impermanence of things. Read more…

Today is one year since Dad got sick. I had dreams about him last night, which didn’t surprise me, as I knew this date was coming up in the back of my mind.

It seems so long ago.

I woke up this morning half-dreaming that I was giving a speech. It was about the intertwined nature of grief and celebration. I hope I can remember enough of it to actually put it in writing. If I do, I’ll post it here.