I was so tired yesterday that I didn’t even write up the story but the day was totally worth it. The night before I received a call from Angel who was down from Tennessee with her fiancé celebrating their engagement in Gulf Shores. She explained that she had been out in about thigh deep water throwing a football when her ring came off. At least she assumed it was in the Gulf, like most people, she wasn’t aware that it was gone until later that day. I agreed that I would come the next day but it would have to be at Sunrise because I was working that day and would have to find it before then. I pulled into the condo at 5:45am after an hour drive and Angel was already eagerly waiting for me in the parking lot. As we walked down to the beach and she explained where she thought it was, I quickly learned that she is just a lovely person and I said a quick prayer for help finding the ring. I got out in the Gulf and it was just awesome. The sun was beginning to peak over the horizon and the water was clear and calm. I was really enjoying myself and before long Angel’s fiancé joined her on the beach. I was explaining about the need to dig the occasional coin when I saw movement from my right. It was a small shark maybe a bit over 4ft long and he came right up to me about arms length. He just kind of eyeballed me and said hello and I thought that it was a great sign. I proceeded to do my first search pattern left to right with no luck. I then went into super detective mode and scoured the entire area again the other way going North and South. As I was wrapping up about an hour later I started to get worried. That ring was not where they thought it was. I walked up and suggested that we move some of the chairs around and let me grid off the beach. I could see Angel getting really worried so I tried to stay upbeat. When I was done with the beach, I told her that I wasn’t giving up yet so she couldn’t either. I told her to think about other areas it could be while I went back into the water and expanded my search west. I was on only my second pass when I got the unmistakable sound of gold. It was such a good signal that I got their attention and they watched eagerly as sure enough I had it in my scoop. There were so many shells it was hard to see until finally I saw a flash of diamond. I gave them a big smile and a thumbs up. It’s the first time I have had to fend off a couple with my metal detector and back away saying “Don’t hug me, don’t hug me”. 😃 Luckily, social distancing won out and as they hugged each other and cried a bit, I promised that one of these days I might make it up to Nashville post Covid and I would gladly take those hugs. Until then, Angel, I am so glad I was able to help you two out and I wish you all the very best! 💍

Yesterday after work I got a call from a nice man named Nathaniel from Huntsville, AL. He and his wife were staying at Orange Beach and had already ridden out Tropical Storm Cristobal so they were really ready to get down on the beach and do some exploring. Sometimes after a big storm there will be tidal pools left after the surge takes out a bunch of sand and leaves the water in it’s place and that’s what Nathaniel was enjoying, throwing football back and forth when his wedding ring came flying off. When Nathaniel called me I went through my standard list of questions and the only thing I was worried about was that a gentleman on the beach with a detector had helped them look in the water for about 45 mins to no avail. It turns out that this was a Good Samaritan from out of town and might not have been familiar with hunting in saltwater. I told Nathaniel that I would be there in about an hr and not to worry that even if it took awhile I was prepared for a night hunt. I was secretly thinking that it wouldn’t take long to grid the tidal pool but when I got there I saw that it was easily the largest one I had ever seen on the beach. It was over 100yds by 100yds. Wow. 😳  Luckily, Nathaniel is a very intelligent guy and had immediately marked his position with landmarks and then walked straight out and marked his position on the sand with a beach chair. We had a great starting point. We went over a few more questions and as the rain poured down, I started my search. I could hear the disturbed areas in my machine where they had been digging, looking for it so with every step I was hoping to hear that gold tone. The first try was a no go so I asked a few more questions about whether he was throwing the ball hard or lobbing it, etc.  I expanded my search and started to see that tell tale sign of doubt and worry on Nathaniel’s face. I told him not to worry that I even had another detector in the car and if I had to I could grid out the entire area. He nodded and smiled a bit as I finished up the larger area with no luck. I came back over and asked him what he was thinking while he was watching me search and he said he was worried. Nathaniel is a big strong guy and he said he was throwing the ball hard so I asked him if he was throwing a tight spiral. He said of course 😄 so I told him that if he had followed through the ring may have flung to the other side towards shore. He said he had thought of that but he didn’t see it splash and he felt like it just had to be the other way. I smiled and politely told him my favorite line that “if they knew where it was, they wouldn’t need me.”  He laughed and agreed to let me do a bit of searching towards the waters edge. I went 3 feet and got a 12-37 which is usually a zinc penny on my machine but I never pass a good signal while searching for a ring and I always dig it very gently so I won’t damage the ring just in case. It came up in the scoop so easily that it didn’t make a sound and when I held it over to Nathaniel he just yelled, “YOU ARE THE MAN!!!”  Haha, that feeling of elation never gets old. It turns out that it was Nathaniel’s wife’s birthday and she was at dinner with family hoping that he would make it in time. When I found out I insisted that we make a run for it and they could send me pics later. As you can see, he made the dinner and I’m pretty sure his wife liked her birthday present. 👍😃. I’m so glad that I could help out, Nathaniel. It was a pleasure meeting you. God bless!

What a great day today!  My new friend Alexander called me last night with a very big problem. He was enjoying dinner with his family and his girlfriend and decided to take a group photo. When he looked at the picture he realized that he was missing his cherished necklace. It was his Grandmother’s and it was made in Beirut many years ago. It was even said to have a splinter in the cross that hung on it from the Cross that Jesus was crucified on. Alexander’s Grandmother passed away when he was a kid and she entrusted it to his Dad to hold until he was old enough to truly understand the importance of the necklace. Since that day over 4 years ago Alexander has not taken it off. That’s why when he did the math and realized he had dropped it in the gulf in chest deep water while taking a swim earlier in the day, he immediately began trying to find someone who could help him get it back. That’s where I came in! 😃  When he called, we went over the logistics of everything and I explained how I could help but I was struck at how truly worried he was. I’ve never had someone so pointedly and honestly ask me, “Can I trust you?”  I immediately decided that I was going to do everything in my power to prove my answer to him that yes, I was indeed trustworthy. I met Alexander and his girlfriend Leslie bright and early this morning in Orange Beach. They walked me down to the gulf and pointed out the area where they thought it was and settled in to watch me do my thing.  I’m not going to lie, 3 & 1/2 hours later, I was starting to get concerned. I expanded the search and thoroughly covered a huge area but it was simply not there. We had already covered tides and the current but I decided to come in and talk to Alexander. He and Leslie has stayed on the beach the entire time and I could see the growing worry in their faces. I asked Alexander if there was a spot that he had thought about while watching me that I hadn’t covered. He said the only place he could possibly think of was maybe shallower and east of the search area. I went right back out while he and Leslie were discussing that this might be the last shot. I’m always talking to the Man upstairs when I do these recoveries but this time I was really asking him to slow me down and guide me. I only had about one pass left when I heard a good sound. I snapped my head down and I briefly saw Leslie realize I had heard something good. I had dug so many pieces of trash earlier that I knew this could be another but I still very gently used my scoop to make sure I didn’t damage anything, just in case. Sure enough on the second scoop down I looked in and saw that beautiful gold cross still on that gold chain as if nothing had ever happened. You can imagine the celebration of the whole family and the relieved joy and disbelief of Alexander when I held out the scoop for him to remove his Grandmother’s necklace. We could only air high five since we were being responsible and social distancing but I had one of my favorite moments ever doing this as Alexander tried to find the right words… he finally said, “You know, I will remember you forever!”  😃😃😃. I’ll remember you too my friend. God bless you all and hang on to that necklace. 😉