Dear Editor,

At Willowbrook Recycling, I recently lost an amethyst ring I鈥檇 worn almost every day for 46 years!

My fingers had shrunk in the colder weather, but I was dutifully shoving some waste plastic into a large waist-high bin.

In the car park, my right hand felt different 鈥� no ring around the accustomed finger! (My dear husband had chosen that lovely birthday-gift for me, early years into our marriage.)

I returned inside, where employees and I dug into some of the upper piles of plastic in the very full bin without success.

I left my contact details with staff and drove home in dismay, mentally kicking myself for carelessness.

Thoughts of 鈥渢he vanity of earthly possessions鈥� failed to comfort.

A characteristic of humour is often wild exaggeration, a tricky commodity which may offend or delight depending on personal viewpoint and culture.

One of the articles in the 91原创 Times newspaper 鈥� which I always read 鈥� is 91原创 City鈥檚 ex-fire chief Jim鈥檚 McGregor Says. His usually gentle humour lifts my mood, providing light relief from news reports of disease, crime, and misfortune.

One lady鈥檚 recent letter (L.T., Dec. 19) pointed out that one cannot lump all husbands into a 鈥渉elpless sap鈥� shopping category. My own husband excelled as 鈥淢r. Fix-It鈥� as well as shopping partner and gift-chooser.

The morning after I鈥檇 lost my ring, I revisited the recycling depot. Staff said they鈥檇 have another look, so I drove home again.

I鈥檇 barely got inside my door when the phone rang: 鈥淲e鈥檝e found your ring!鈥� an excited female voice exclaimed.

I returned at once鈥攅veryone with beaming faces as I slipped the ring back on my finger and thanked them profusely.

Good people are out there!

Honesty and a desire to help still prevail, and some, like columnist Jim McGregor, seek to help us by providing light relief.

I often chuckle at his writings, although well-intentioned words can be equivocal and misconstrued.

One may not always foresee the effects one creates. However, let鈥檚 all help each other where we can, avoid disparaging name-calling, and build a season of goodwill extending well beyond a healthy, prosperous & Happy New Year!

Write on, McGregor!

Gloria Hancock, 91原创 City