The Lost Diamond

Carrie had a tough trip to Wisconsin flying solo with Quentin, having her flight delayed, a destroyed car seat, a long line to follow up with the baggage folks to attempt to make a claim and then an hour ride back to Lake Geneva. There is only so much Quentin can take. Crabby!! I actually beat her there driving and was locked out of the house with Lucky. Fortunately there were still a few brewskies left over in the cooler so much to my parent's (and neighbor's) dismay they found Lucky and I on the porch throwing a few cold ones back when they finally arrived. All parties were exhausted from the long day of travel and we went to bed early after spending an evening ordering pizza and catching up. The next morning we decided to go downtown and have breakfast. Shortly after arriving and getting seated Carrie noticed her ring didn't look right and upon further inspection a diamond had fallen out of its setting. The tears began welling up. My pocked book got angry. After such a long day yesterday surely it was lost. Carrie was upset, Q was fidgeting and it was the exclamation point on a rough couple of days of travel. I was pretty determined to find it as it has obvious sentimental value. I didn't think the diamond would just fall out so I figured it must be in something she had put her hand into like the diaper bag.

I dug out my Sherlock Holmes pipe and began my investigation beginning with the diaper bag. I rifled through that thing and found lots of undesirable items and toys that had been swallowed up by the black hole of "stuff" but no diamond. I moved on to the shower and inspected it with a bright light hoping to catch the glimmer of the diamond but no luck. Sink was next, followed by the make up bag and toiletry bag. I'm starting to lose hope but still think I have a good chance of finding it. I begin to dive into her suitcase next when I decide to turn up the light so I can see better. Upon walking back from the light switch I see something shining on the carpet. No way right? That has to be a tiny piece of plastic. I get closer and pick it up - sure enough it was the diamond. As I'm looking at it I drop it and hear it hit my duffel bag. You've got to be kidding me. I can't find it now and start yet another inspection with a slight moment of frustration setting in. After a few minutes I locate it again and emerge to the living room to accept the high fives for being such a good detective. If the plumber thing doesn't work out I can always be the next aging Dirty Harry.

The ring returned with Carrie's parents with the diamond in a plastic baggie to be sent back to the original Iowa jeweler to have it repaired. Hopefully it will last slightly longer than the two years, 49 days the original workmanship lasted. This weekend I am purchasing my metal detector and going treasure hunting in the shipwrecked filled seas off the coast of Florida. Hopefully more diamonds will be discovered. I leave you with a picture of Q with his great grandparents on Carrie's side and one of the sunsets we almost got to enjoy after Quentin got to bed only to have him start screaming about 10 minutes before the sun went down. I shot some pictures so Carrie and I could enjoy it later.