SYDNEY, N.S. — Coincidence or fate?
That’s the question Allison Melski is contemplating after her husband’s wedding band was found exactly 11 years to the day it went missing.
“I never thought we would ever see that ring again,” said the Sydney woman.
“It’s just unbelievable that it was found and it’s even more unbelievable when you think about the day it was found — I was absolutely blown away.”
The story of ring begins back in 2007 when the then-Allison Hickey was getting ready to marry Robert Melski. Sadly, Robert’s uncle Ron Melski passed away at the age of 62 the day before the couple was to wed on Sept. 1. However, with everything all set to go they decided to go ahead with the wedding.
Exactly one year later, Allison and Robert celebrated their one-year anniversary at the Melski family bungalow on Boularderie Island.
“Robert was in the water and after he was out for a little while he realized that the ring was gone — obviously, we were upset and began to look for it,” recalled Allison.
An extensive search ensued, but there was no sign of the ring in the shoreline waters of Bras d’Or Lake or on the nearby land. According to Allison, the task seemed daunting and hopes of finding the ring soon faded.
“We actually decided to get him another one not long after the original was lost,” she said.
Fast forward 11 years to the Labour Day long weekend. The Melskis are once again gathered at the family’s summer getaway. It’s a time to remember Robert’s uncle Ron and to celebrate Robert and Allison’s 11th anniversary.
“We all get together and it’s a special time for our family,” said Robert’s cousin David Melski, who along with brothers Tony and Tom followed their father’s footsteps into the local police force.
“It’s something we do every year, but this time something happened that was incredible. I was out there and was walking in the water with my nephew and we found the ring.”
Not one to keep good news to himself, David set off for Sydney to return the ring, which was a little tarnished after 11 years of being submerged in the salt water of the Bras d’Or, to cousin Robert.
“We were having a bonfire with our daughter Lyra when he brought the ring by — we couldn’t believe it,” said Allison, who said it was only afterwards that the coincidence of the sequence of events dawned on her.
“To think that the ring was lost on our anniversary and found on our anniversary is just incredible — how is that possible?”
Fate or coincidence?
“I don’t know — but we’re putting that ring back on Robert’s finger,” she said.
“Even though he wore the second ring for longer, the first one is the original and it was the one I gave him when we got married, so that’s the one he’ll wear once we get it cleaned up — and I guess we got a back-up ring in case he loses it again.”
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