My Wedding Ring!

Talk about lucky...this makes the second time this ring has managed to roll off my finger, get lost for a significant amount of time, and then turn up in the strangest of places ... (maybe I've been reading too much Tolkien after all!)

I lost it the first time last year...just noticed one day that it was no longer on my finger...spent weeks scouring my house, work, garage and basement to no avail....then one day while driving home from work...a thunderstorm popped up unexpectedly and I had to seek shelter (driving a convertible).  After pulling off the highway and into a local gas station..I was checking the oil in the car when a glimmer caught my eye....there in a small open compartment in the engine of my '78 Fiat spider was my wedding ring...covered in grease which had somehow managed to not fall out during 5 months of driving almost 250 miles per day over sometimes very rough roads.

As incredible as that was....here I am, Memorial Day weekend 2011, telling the same tale yet again. This past winter, maybe in November or December I once again managed to part company with my wedding ring, without my knowledge. Once discovered, I set out on a repeat trip, scouring the house, garage, etc. all to no avail, although this time I was convinced that I had lost it at the local market while picking up some old newspapers to burn in the fireplace.

After making several trips to the market and coercing everyone who worked there to help me look, I had an idea...maybe the ring had come off my finger as I was putting paper and wood into my fireplace...so next day (had to wait for the coals to burn out), my wife and I rummaged through the ashes in the fireplace...sadly, with no results...this time I was certain it was lost for good.

Well, here we are, 5/28/2011, Saturday...after awaking from a short nap..I glanced over toward my computer and there, sitting proudly on top of my mouse, was my shiny gold ring!! I ran downstairs, to learn where my wife had found it. Well, as it happens, she had cleaned out the fireplace a week or so before my "bright" idea this past winter and today, while taking a walk in the woods behind our house...she, just like I had previously, caught a glimpse of something metallic at the base of one of the trees...there, embedded in a pile of cold, wet ashes that she had disposed of last winter from our fireplace was the ring (or maybe I should say the "one" ring).

Reunited, ring on my finger, I am celebrating...but who knows for how long... :)
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My Family

My lovely wife Irlanda. We met on Yahoo chat wile she was still in Colombia and I was working in South Carolina. At first my intent was just to make some new pen pals and friends but it very quickly moved past that point to full fledged, head over heals being in love.

I spent most of my paycheck sending flowers, paying for a mariachi band to show up at her house and serenade her, sending her an endless supply of Vermont Teddy Bears. I can vividly remember spending hours of holding in my stomach so I could send her a photo of myself that I wasn't embarrassed about!

She is loving, caring, passionate and, luckily for me, organized! I would be lost without her in more ways than one.

There's no doubt who the lucky one is in this photo. She moved to the US several years ago, where we initially lived in Underhill Vermont, but later moved to Maine. We used to have dear and bear in our front yard which we have apparently traded for red tailed foxes and bald eagles overhead! I think the pond of noisy frogs just followed us here.

All I can say guys is that if you ever have the opportunity to visit Colombia - Go!



This is my son Gregory who is a physics major at University of Southern Maine. We have some great conversations and debates on a variety of topics, as long as I can keep him off of the computer and video games...ah well, I guess it's time to forget about curbing that vice!

Greg is a great son, he is intelligent, supportive, compassionate and responsible. He has never given me cause to worry or fret. I love him dearly and am incredibly proud of him.

My daughter Caitlin, or should I say Cici! Either way she is and always will be my princess. She has the most beautiful soul, she can write the most beautiful of poetry, songs and take the most amazing photos.

Caitlin is passionate to the extreme and it has taken her on many journeys, some beautiful and exotic while others have been dark and lonely.

For someone so young, she has done much more than most people do in their entire lives, very much like her dad. I love you very much.
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Colombia

Hello all, well here I am at my in-laws farm in Colombia holding a chicken! I had a wonderful visit, the people of Colombia are terrific, helpful and friendly.

More importantly was the food, it was awesome!! Now one thing I learned, I had somehow assumed that the farther south you went from Mexico the spicier the food would be (I have no idea where I got that idea). It is definitely not the case. Colombian food is very mild, definitely less sweet than in the US and like it is here, the food varies greatly by region.

If you will be visiting in Bogotá I highly recommend a restaurant called Casa Vieja, you can get more info at Casa Vieja we had a lovely time there, make certain that you order a Candelazo, a wonderful drink made with ... well just try one!

This is my wife, Iralnda's family in Palmira Colombia. I've spent many happy days sitting at that dining room table learning Spanish, eating, watching Colombian television (guau! las mujeres!).

My brother-in-law Andres (second from right, back row) just graduated medical school so I can relax about health care when I retire! Both Alejandra (second from left) and Diana (far right) have had their Quienceañera and are the most lovely young women I know.

Lastly, a quick photo from our favorite breakfast place in Palmira looking down into the street. Seems that the Japanese are everywhere!

It seems that there are about 10 taxis and 15 motorcycles for every private car. Public transportation is never a problem. Wonder if I could get the Mayor of Palmira to help us here in Maine with that issue?
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