She Gave it Back to Me
By cynthiann
@cynthiann (18602)
Jamaica
September 5, 2011 6:48pm CST
Earlier this year or last year, I don't really remember, I gave my daughter my engagement ring so that she could use the diamonds in her wedding band. I was happy when this gift was accepted. Her Wedding band is very pretty and I thought that it was my diamonds in the band.
Well, she gave it back to me yesterday and I was blown away as the one missing diamond had now been replaced. So i asked why the diamonds had not been used.
The Jeweler who made her band said that mine were the wrong shape as they are raised and she needed flat diamonds for her band. Then she told him the story of the band and he was so touched that he offered to put back the diamond and clean the ring free of charge.
My first engagement ring had been stolen years earlier and I was devastated as it was a Victorian ring resembling a flower with a larger diamond in the centre surrounded by smaller diamonds.
Years passed and we were going through hell financially after a major hurricane ans money was scarce. I was waiting on my husband to receive his bonus cheque for bananas supplied throughout the year before the hurricane. I had made a list of what the boys needed to get back to school after the Christmas break and had explained to them that there would be no extra treats that Christmas although everyone would receive 2 presents. My daughter was about 5 so would be happy with 5 or 6 cheaper presents.
Christmas morning arrived and everyone opened their gifts but they kept looking at me in anticipation. When I opened my husband's present it was this beautiful diamond ring. He had spoken to the boys re gift and they all went to town and chose the ring. He explained to them that times were really hard but he wanted to give their mother something beautiful and special because she deserved it. They were all for it to happen.
Bottom line was that I cried and breakfast did not get cooked but somehow lunch did! The daughter was upset that she had not been in the secret but they knew that she would have told me 
I do not remember how we managed but we obviously did until the crop came in again.
It was such a ridiculous over the top thing to do when we couldn't afford it. But this is how we was. So that is the end of my tale and the ring is sparkling very prettily on my finger again.
So do you have a story similar to mine?
I do not remember how we managed but we obviously did until the crop came in again.
It was such a ridiculous over the top thing to do when we couldn't afford it. But this is how we was. So that is the end of my tale and the ring is sparkling very prettily on my finger again.
So do you have a story similar to mine?7 people like this
18 responses
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
6 Sep 11
Ah thank you. I did get a bit teary when I received it as many memories were resurrected
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
6 Sep 11
Some things are too important to let money stand in the way. It is clear that you were the jewel in your husband's heart. I think this is so neat that your daughter got to do her part all these years later.
2 people like this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
6 Sep 11
What a lovely expression! Thank you so much for saying that.
Yes, we did have a wonderful marriage and a fantastic Dad. We all still miss him so very much. My daughter brought it around the full circle
Yes, we did have a wonderful marriage and a fantastic Dad. We all still miss him so very much. My daughter brought it around the full circle1 person likes this
@moondancer (7431)
• United States
7 Sep 11
That is sweet that she gave the ring back all just like new. She could not use it for what you asked her to but she had it fixed for you. Maybe some time later you can have the ring made into a necklace for her, or leave it as it is and give it to her for her anniversary. My mom had a ring she had made into a necklace and it is beautiful.
@moondancer (7431)
• United States
8 Sep 11
Yes, sorry I have hardly been online. I had surgery 2 weeks ago and was so ill before that. I just had two surgeries at one time. I had to have a pace maker for my heart and they replaced the VNS pacemaker I had for seizers since the battery was going out in the old one. I am just getting to where I can use both hands to type.
He is fine and just left here going back to work. He came home for 2 weeks to care for me. Thank you for asking.
I hope you are doing well and the same for your family. You take care now. hugs...
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
8 Sep 11
I am starting a novena - nine days prayer three times daily - and now I will add your name to my list. Get well soon. I am glad your husband was there with you. Many blessings
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
8 Sep 11
Hi my friend. We have not talked in a long time. I do hope that you and your husband are well. I just love your idea and I think that she will love it too. Blessings
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
6 Sep 11
I don't know what to say
Many thank you's and many blessings my friend
Many thank you's and many blessings my friend1 person likes this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
6 Sep 11
oh cynthiann I have not a story about a ring but the second year we were married and two babies 11 months apart, I felt sad that my husband never bought me flowers. So he got a grin on his face and he phoned mymom, told me it was a secret just wait. so an hour later he came back from my moms with a huge wheel barrow full of Shasta Daisy plants in full bloom oh they were just gorgeus. He even planted them my gift in our front lawn where i could see thenm every day. IJ loved this gift and had to laugh when he said" No dont
tell me I never brought any flowers." They were really so beautiful and they bloomed and bloomed.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
6 Sep 11
That is a lovely story Hatley. Isn't it great that something can jog our memory and it all floods back again as if it was yesterday?
@bounce58 (17385)
• Canada
8 Sep 11
No I don't, and I wish I had.
When people talk about courage, they talk about doing feats hard to do. For me, this is an example of unbelievable courage. Knowing that life is going to be to tough in the coming days/weeks/months, and yet do something as selfless as this.
Thank you for sharing.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
9 Sep 11
Thank you Bounce. He was an amazing man that I had the great privilege of sharing 31 years with - very happily - despite the obvious feast and then famine that is the life of farmers here and elsewhere. Blessings
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
6 Sep 11
That was sweet of her. I am glad she did give it back so that you can continue to enjoy it.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
6 Sep 11
Yes, I am wearing it right now and keep looking at it like a young person who has just got engaged!
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
6 Sep 11
No...you get to have this one all to yourself...and it's a totally lovely story. I know about the daughter thing...LOL....they have a tendency to share with their mothers....How very special you must feel each time you look down at your ring! Someone really loved you!
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
8 Sep 11
Yes, I have been smiling since she gave it back to me. Thank you - he really was a good man and a wonderful hands on father. Blessings
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
6 Sep 11
This is a wonderful story, Cynthi & i am so proud u have your ring back. What a sweet thing for u to do for Rachel & what a sweet thing she did for u. I don't have a similar story but glad i got to share yours.hugs to u.
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
6 Sep 11
I'm so glad u have such good memories of your husband. U are very blessed to. Looking forward to getting the paper. Thank u. love & hugs.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
6 Sep 11
When she handed it back to me the memories of that Christmas came flooding back. I have sent the newspaper to you but it will probably take a few weeks to reach you.
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
6 Sep 11
lovely. not quite as nice a story but a sweet one all the same. about my late last hubby. xmas eve had come and we were living together.i had his presents under the tree and still didnt see mine. he saw me looking and pondering. i thought maybe it was to big a gift. he came in laughing at me and said ok i wont wait. sit down here. then he kneeled by me took out a small box and gave it to me and said will you marry me? i told him it was the best xmas gift id ever gotten. 
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
6 Sep 11
But that is a wonderful story! So very romantic of him to do it that way. Definitely the best Christmas present anyone could receive.
@Humbug25 (12540)
•
6 Sep 11
Hi there Cynth
Aww that is a lovely story but can totally relate to your daughter haha It was exactly the same for me when I was younger, no one would tell me anything because I couldn't keep a secret and was always so gutted when no one would let me in on anything. As far as stories about engagement rings go, no I don't have any! Yes I have been married once but I never got an engagement ring, stingey so and so!!
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
6 Sep 11
She still can''t keep anything from me. She will call and say Mummy I just have to tell you.....
She will call and say Mummy I just have to tell you.....
@RitterSport (2451)
• Lippstadt, Germany
16 Sep 11
Dearest Cynthiann, thats a really touching story. No I dont have anything like this to share but just wanted to say hi and wish you a very blessed weekend my dear friend.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
6 Sep 11
Thank you. I do feel very happy today as it is sparkling on my finger.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
6 Sep 11
The jeweller sounds like such a nice person! I do not have a similar story to share except for the one about the rather expensive CD Walkman my husband then fiancé bought me many years agowith his last two hundred dollars. CD Walkman’s used to be expensive back then and he knew how much I wanted one although he had no cash except his rent money which was what he used to buy the thing! He had to do quite a bit of overtime to make up the shortfall and pay his rent, bless his heart! Enjoy your beautiful ring....
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
6 Sep 11
Now that is a sign of love. I think that apart from the obvious, I was really touched because we had been married 19 years.
1 person likes this
@NoWayRo (1061)
• Romania
6 Sep 11
That's a lovely story; and the best thing is that now both you and your daughter get to wear something beautiful.
When my grandparents left Turkey and moved to Romania, they brought all their valuables with them - and I was left to understand they were quite well off. But times were rough, they went through two world wars and a long period of famine, so they sold mostly everything. At some point, my grandmother traded a golden bracelet for a small bag of flour. However, she refused to part with a ring and earrings with diamonds, and they were passed on to my mother and now to me. They're not very valuable today, since the stones are uncut, but they mean the world to me, and just the same, I won't part with them and I'll pass them on to the next generation. I think that's what diamonds are for, memories, and not financial value. (Well, bet a jeweler would disagree, but still )
)@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
6 Sep 11
I totally agree with you. It was amazing what people went through in the last two world wars. In WW1 my Grandmother heard in the morning that her husband had been killed and in the afternoon she was told that her eldest son had been killed too. This was in the U.K. which is where I came from originally. We have all the documents of the family from even earlier than that. what a lot they went through but even today so many people are suffering
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
6 Sep 11
Yes, we can sometimes be taken back by the generosity of strangers in this materialistic world.
