Something happened today which really blew me away ...
A little background: In the early 1980s I worked with a great young captain named Keith. Keith and I made news together when he skippered an adventure charter in the Sea of Cortez for Krov Menuhin (son of renowned violinist Yehudi Menuhin). The charter was complicated and difficult but Keith pulled it off and the resulting documentary won international awards.
Through the experience, young Keith became my star captain. It wasn't long before Bobby and Keith became fast friends too. Weekends often found them diving for abalone in the Pacific kelp beds off the San Diego coastline. Of course the days concluded with a seafood feast at our house. Keith's girlfriend, Rhonda now becomes a big part of the story.
Around the same time, I had the opportunity to book several charters to young Saudi prince Fahad. These charters we always difficult ... I had to secure very large deposits for the inevitable damage to the yacht. Keith and Rhonda both worked these charters and, although I was always involved with the business end, Keith often confided more details to Bobby (like the time the prince paid his body guards extra to water ski naked in front of the waterfront restaurants.)
At the end of one such charter I was presented with a delicate gold pendant with small sapphires and rubies from Prince Fahad. I seldom wore it but when I did I was proud to know it was a gift from a prince!
In ensuing years Keith became involved with drugs causing a sad end to a great relationship. Rhonda, Bobby and I moved on to the next chapter of our lives.
Decades later, about 2 years ago, I received a call from Rhonda. She was living in another town now but had heard about Bobby's dementia. She was caring for her mother-in-law who was suffering the same affliction. We rekindled our friendship and began sending each other texts every couple of weeks.
After I lost Bobby, Rhonda still stayed in touch but our conversations moved from illness and support to memories of happier days.
This morning, Rhonda happened to ask if I still had the necklace I bought from her. I was confused and let her know that I never bought that necklace, it was a gift from the prince. I would never have purchased that necklace ... As pretty as it was, I didn't wear such delicate jewelry.
Clearly our memories were very different but we put the story together: The prince gave Rhonda the necklace as a gratuity for working on the charter (Keith got a Rolex!) but at that time she wore no jewelry at all. She didn't even pierce her ears.
We now realize that Keith went to Bobby and between them they decided that Bobby would purchase the necklace for me on the condition they told me it was from the prince. He gave Keith $300 which Keith passed on to Rhonda in lieu of her necklace.
That all happened almost 40 years ago and my wonderful husband never once let on he bought me that necklace!
So you can see why the tears are flowing today.
