The Ringkeeper

Today I became a keeper of rings. For a short time, anyway. I know, some people picture Gollum from The Hobbit/Lord of the Rings; or perhaps a maiden holding rings of two souls ready to wed. My ringkeeping isn’t romantic, but perhaps a tad mysterious. What is the story behind these rings? Why are they so important?

After being sick for a few days I knew I couldn't get out of work today as our weekly team meeting was scheduled for the afternoon. I turned my work phone on at 7am to find an email from the on call nurse that patient Ms. E died and she needed relief by 8am which was when her shift ended. Relief for a death usually means someone to sit and wait until the body is picked up, in case family wants to be there and to be respectful and supportive to the mortuary, nursing facility or family home. In some cases, this can take hours. In Ms. E’s case, when it was all said and done only a little over an hour passed.

I met Ms. E a few times as she was a patient on my caseload. She lived in a nursing facility not far from my condo. Estranged from her children, her nephew was her medical power of attorney and a very caring soul. Because her death happened somewhat unexpectedly, he wasn’t able to get to the facility in time to gather her personal belongings today.

Hence, I became the keeper of the rings.

The two times I visited Ms. E she would fiddle with her fingers. On one finger she had three rings that she would twist and turn. One with a diamond, one with rubies and a diamond, and this sweet little ring with 4 green stones. She would twist them on her finger and I took notice. I asked her about them and in her few words she said how special they were. So, today, before the hospice nurse left the nursing home we checked Ms. E for personal belongings and there were, of course, her rings layered on her one finger.

I called the nephew. “What should I do about the rings?” We hemmed and hawed, over the phone, deciding to wait until the mortuary came so I could have time to ask the facility about the protocol for such a matter. Once the rings were in my hands, though, that pretty much sealed the deal. No one in the facility really wanted to take responsibility. “That is really between you and the nephew,” one staff member told me. Another threw up her hands. “I am not at the nurses station all the time. I can’t secure them there.”

I called the nephew back. “I know you have to come and get her things, and I don’t live far. Why don’t I meet you tomorrow at the facility and I will deliver the rings?” He was very appreciative and we agreed to a time. After her body was taken and all the paperwork was completed I took the rings and had to make a few other visits before stopping home and moving on to the meeting. I had no where in my car to store these precious rings and so I put them in an empty Mentos gum container and placed them securely in my cupholder. “There”, I thought. “People peering in will just see a gum container, and I know exactly where the rings are.” I went about my visits, came home, brought the gum container inside, and prayed no one chose that particular time to break into my condo and steal a gum container full of precious rings (as the greyhound would be sound asleep on the queen sized bed, not to be bothered).

Of course no one broke in my condo while in possession of these rings, and it isn’t as though I am talking about some sort of bling bling like a Kardashian would wear, either. The rings are tarnished and dirty. One ring has missing stones, the diamond ring is dirty under the diamond. I found a small ring polishing cloth bag that I will deliver them in, not in the gum container, but decided not to actually polish them. Let the nephew do that. Let him enjoy the mystery behind the tarnished and dirty old rings.

I would like to think that someone, someday, will ensure my rings find a special place. Most of my rings are costume jewelry, really. Heck, most of my jewelry isn’t worth much. There are a few special pieces. My Tiffany and CO bracelet and necklace which were a gift to myself because, hey, someone needed to give these to me! And of course, a ruby engagement ring and two white gold wedding bands with hand engraved names Michael and Melanie and the date March 25, 2000 on the inside.

Who might be the ring keeper of these rings? Who might guess the story behind them? Who might ensure they get to a meaningful place?