Since the surgery, six weeks ago, I've not been wearing my engagement ring and wedding band, because my left hand is swollen. It's probably a circulatory thing. Anyway, I know this bothers Erik to a degree, and gotta tell ya, if it may look like I'm the homewrecking single hussy out with a married man at Sunday brunch, well then, with the help of some cold water, I managed to get them on this morning.

Now, our chapel is coooold. At some point during the service, probably while we were standing for the final hymn today, my left hand shrunk up. We went down to the basement for a cup of bad coffee and some banter with the chaplains. When we left to go to brunch, we got all the way out to the truck, I looked down at my left hand and alerted Erik to the situation. I have not seen him react to anything so quickly as to the prospect of me with no wedding band. Everyone in the basement was on the prowl. The elderly couples outside the church were searching the sidewalk. Erik finally found the engagement ring and half of the ordeal was over.

Jan, the seemingly all-knowing organist and Sgt. Tevales, the chaplain's assistant, flagged me down from the front of the sanctuary.

"Ma'am, I found your beautiful wedding ring. I didn't want to make an announcement, because I didn't want anyone to lie and say it was theirs..."

THANK GOD for such a caring family of people!