During Viet Nam this now old detectorist belonged to the US Navy. After Boot Camp, I was assigned to Dental Technician school where my demonstrated manual dexterity qualified me to be further trained as a Prosthetic Technician. I could carve wax (crowns-n-bridges) with the very best of em. If you are familiar with the trade/process, the carved wax is used in making a mold and later filled (poured) with a precious metal. In those days...GOLD. Dental gold ~ 18 carat. As you might have guessed, we technicians carved many a ring and ear rings for Dental Officer's wives/girlfriends.
Well...while stationed in the beautiful Republic of the Philippines (think tropical paradise...swaying palm trees, clear blue water, etc., etc.) I cast my wife a very attractive gold piece of finger candy. It goes without saying (ahemm) she did (still does) cherish it more than her wedding ring.
FIRST LOSS:
Long story short - several years later (say 45) we went Christmas shopping with our grown kids to a very large mall. Visited numerous stores, tried on several pieces of attire and eventually ate out. Arrived home around 10 PMish and just before retiring for the day, the wife comes to me in tears. Whimpering she blurts, "You're going to kill me...I lost your (her) ring".
After comforting her, I began thinking I'll have to try and re-visit every shop, ask for the manager and explain I'm looking for a lost gold ring...as if it's finder would even turn it in. Later, while trying to go to sleep, I tried to imagine how I might remake the ring...without the necessary tools, oven and casting equipment, not to mention the gold.
FIRST FIND:
Awoke the next morning and had a moment of enlightenment...'Go check the back seat of the car and the ground next to the drive way.' Maybe it came off in the car and "squished" outside when she slid out. Stupidly took my pin pointer with me, as if (?) it would somehow discriminate the metal in the car and it's seats while it did it's job, pointing to her precious ring.
Miraculously, upon opening the rear door - there sat the ring, majestically awaiting my prying eyes. Got a bear hug and hot kiss for my effort.
SECOND LOSS:
Five or so years later, wife had a routine, mid-afternoon Doctor's appt. Afterwards, we went out for dinner and then returned home. About thirty minutes pass and I hear a very feminine screech from the bed room. Yeah. It's gone missing again.
SECOND FIND:
Now dark, I drive the 20 or so miles back to the Clinic remembering exactly where we had parked. I slowly pulled up and stopped just short of the handicapped spot where we had parked four or five hours earlier. With the headlights on, I got out and strolled in front of the car. Oh, Heck Yeah...there it lay on the ground awaiting my return. Nearly ran over it. Couldn't believe my, no OUR luck! More hugs and kisses...but, today...she refuses to wear it.
Sorry, its not the MD type story you expected...BUT, it was metal (GOLD in fact) and I had to find (detect) the darn thing TWICE!!! For you Statisticians...what are the odds? Top that.