`Santa Claus already came to this town`

By Kristen Garrett
Herald Staff Writer

Cheryl Whalen received an early Christmas present Dec. 10 when, after 21 years of marriage, her husband Terry bought her a new engagement ring.

Just six days later Mrs. Whalen lost the ring. She said she went to the doctor because she had been having problems with her left hand. She said she took the ring off for the exam and put it in her pocket.

Later, after a day of Christmas shopping in Sharon and Hermitage, Mrs. Whalen said she discovered the ring was gone.

“I just really can’t believe it happened,” Mrs. Whalen said, her voice shaking. “You don’t know how sad I feel. I couldn’t even eat that day.”

Mrs. Whalen said she and her daughter retraced her steps, leaving her name and phone number at every place they visited.

The ring wasn’t insured yet, Mrs. Whalen said. She said her husband told her she could wear the ring right away instead of putting it under the Christmas tree. “I just loved that beautiful ring,” she said.

Though his wife is very upset, Whalen said he’s trying to reassure her. He said she has been “beating herself up” about it.

In the end possessions aren’t the most important things, Whalen said. “I have her,” he said. “I don’t need a ring.”

“I’m just so grateful he’s my husband,” she said of her understanding mate. The Whalens’ Christmas wish is that someone has found the ring and doesn’t know where to turn it in. “I’m just hoping some honest person out there found it,” she said.

Mrs. Whalen said they are offering a reward if the ring is returned. “I’m just so upset,” she said. “It’s very sentimental.”

The Whalens are asking anyone who may have found the ring to make their wish come true by calling them at 981-1779.

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