"It's gone!"

I am a world traveler, but I've only been lost once. I'm not sure where I was born, but I know I was fashioned into the one I am today in upstate New York in 1997. He found me there and said I was just perfect for his plans. He asked that I receive the right amount of training: "Polish that one up," he said, "and I'll return in a few weeks to settle the matter." I admit that he seemed a little anxious, but he was beaming broadly when he arrived at the appointed time and took me with him.

Imagine my surprise when he didn't keep me! I'd heard stories from some of the others at my former home who'd gone and returned. They said they'd been hired to do a job and it fell through somehow. "It just didn't go as planned," was the usual comment, and they waited to be hired by someone else. I didn't believe them until he hired me, but in his case, the job went as planned, and I became part of his life in ways I never dreamed possible. Well, it wasn't just his life; it was theirs.

After he gave me to her to hang onto, he left town for a while. She showed me off to lots of people who "ooh"ed and "aahh"ed over me, and I did my best to shine and sparkle as I'd been taught at the training facility. Finally, their big day arrived and I was joined by golden circle. It was nice and all, but I was still the star of the show. When they went on a trip the next day, we went with them. They took a boat to Nova Scotia, Canada, and drove to Prince Edwards Island, too. That was my first taste of international travel that I could remember.

A few weeks better, we got on an airplane and flew forever and a little more. They held hands a lot, and kissed, and looked at the circle and me, and kissed. Ugh. Finally, we landed in Tokyo, Japan, and took trains to Yamagata, more than 200 miles north, where we lived for the next two years. It turns out they met in Japan, even though both of them are Americans, and when he had given me to her and gone away, this was where he'd been before their big day. What a crazy world.

Sometimes when she washed the dishes, she'd take the circle and me off her finger and put us in a small cup. When she was done, she'd put us back, but sometimes she forgot, or she forgot where she put us. More than once, he'd have to help her find us, but we were always located. They also checked to make sure we still fit like we should. Then they'd laugh and say, "Fitness is important!" I don't know why they found that funny. I just did my part to glow and shine, sparkling for everyone to admire.

Eventually, we all moved back to America. He got a job in his home state of Maine. Fourteen years later, when they had two boys who were growing up a little, they found out that one of his nephews was getting married in North Carolina and we were invited to the celebration. We piled into the minivan and made the long drive. We rode along like we always did, content as could be. His many siblings and their children joined the reunion and celebration, and the time together was great fun.

On the drive home, we stopped at a restaurant in Virginia and enjoyed lunch before getting back in the van for the final 15 hours of driving. She was very tired, so she moved to the back bench seat. Moments later, she asked her question and the panic started.

I remember stopping for lunch. That is, I remember hearing the discussion about it. I confess that I can't recall now if I was with them for lunch or not. You see, what followed was so traumatic that I... I just don't know how to explain it.

Therapy helped, but recalling those days and weeks of separation is difficult, even nine years later. Deep breaths, Di. Deep breaths. In through the nose and out through the mouth. Oh, I didn't tell you my name? Where are my manners? It's Di. I have a multifaceted character, in case you didn't know. I can be sweet and charming, or sharp and cutting, or bright and sparkling, all at the same time!

You've successfully distracted me from my concerns, so let's get to it. We stopped at..a Cracker Barrell! I'd forgotten the name of it for so long! Oh, yes, and I was with her when we entered the restaurant. The little boys loved it there, but the couple was a little cranky. I think they were tired and didn't want to waste time. He sounded impatient. "I have to do all the driving," he said, or something like that.

I remember getting in the car with her as she buckled the boys into their booster seats. And as they drove away from the restaurant, she told him that she needed to rest "in the back," and he said it would be fine. And that's when it happened, but I didn't have any way to tell them! I just remember a little tug, and then I was falling, falling, and then all was darkness.

Of course, I heard everything.

"Bill! My diamond! It's gone! We have to go back to the restaurant!"

And back they went. They searched all over the restaurant, apparently, but didn't find it. I heard him saying to her, "We've given them our phone number in case it turns up. It's all we can do, babe. I'm sorry." She cried the rest of the way home, all 15 hours. Neither one had any idea I was so close by.

When the trip was over, she remained inconsolable. He couldn't take much time to look for me, he said, because he had to return to work, but he sounded unconvinced that I was gone forever. When he drove the minivan alone, I'd hear him talk to himself about me. "Where could Di have gone? I need a day to search every part of this car very carefully." I could tell he was sure I was somewhere in the van. All I could do was sit and wait.

It was dark and dirty where I sat. No one admired me. I was lonely. Golden circle wasn't there. I just lay on the carpet and bounced along with tiny pieces of grit and gravel and hoped I wouldn't fall further away from my couple. A day came when I heard him moving around in the van, and I was sure he was going to find me! He was definitely searching. If only I could shout or whistle to let him know where to look! I could tell he was taking everything from the plastic console cover where they kept cups and music CDs. That's right above me, I wanted to holler, but I don't have a voice. He sighed loudly with frustration.

"I'm sorry, babe," I overheard. "It's just not here!"

"Forget it, Bill," came the reply. "It's gone. It's time for me to accept it." There was such sorrow in her voice! I wanted to weep for her.

"I can't forget it, babe," he said. "There have to be other places I just haven't looked in this car."

She walked away, and he sat down in the driver's seat. I knew he sat there because I felt his weight in the car, and because it caused me to roll to the edge of the carpet and fall into a crack between it and the edge. Just what I didn't want to happen!

In the middle of my panic, I heard Bill say, "Wait a minute! What if I could move the console?" My panic stopped. I held my breath, and hoped against hope that he'd finally discovered the answer.

Bill was talking to himself again. "If the diamond's under there, I've gotta be careful not to send it flying. Lemme move all this crap out of the console and put it on the passenger seat." As he muttered, he worked, moving the CDs and everything else out of the plastic-molded covering. "Now, if I reach around the bottom edge of this thing, will it pop out? Carefully now, Billy-boy. Carefully." He reached his fingers under the bottom edge; I could see them.

Suddenly, the console came loose! He gently lifted it off the floor, careful not to disturb anything under it. Then he got down on his knees and began scanning the grit and gravel that had surrounded me since my fall a couple of weeks earlier. His eye caught a glimpse of sparkle, and he looked right at me. I saw the hope light his face, and I brightened my facets as much as I could. FOUND!!

With great care, he picked me up, dusted me off, and looked at me fondly. "We need to go see her. She will be very relieved and happy to see you."

He placed me in his pocket and walked into the house. "Well, my dear," he said solemnly to his downhearted wife. "I'm not sure this is what you're looking for, but you tell me." With that, he placed me in her hand and watched for her reply.

"WHERE DID YOU FIND IT??" Her joy was unbounded as she embraced him.

"It was under the console. It must have fallen out as you made your way to the back for that nap when we left Cracker Barrel. Let's take it to the jeweller's to be reset. We want Di to be with us for many years to come!"

I was apart from them again for a few weeks while being cleaned and put in a new setting, but it was planned, so no panic was involved. I love my couple, and I'm glad he didn't give up looking for me when I was lost!