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E-mail StoryHerb Benham: This lost-and-found story is one for the ages
| Thursday, Jul 3 2008 11:23 AM
Last Updated: Thursday, Jul 3 2008 1:54 PM
Is there not a book in stores about lost class rings returned to their owners after long periods of time?
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This is from Janice Blackburn, who works at the Wells Fargo on Oswell Street.
Janice’s father died in April. While going through his belongings, Janice found a class ring from Clovis High School.
Her father had found the ring while working at the Red Lion Hotel. His efforts to find the ring’s owner were unsuccessful and a year later he retired and took the ring with him hoping to find its owner.
“I decided to take up the hunt and make some inquires,” Janice wrote. “The name engraved in the ring, Bryon Greiss, had an unusual spelling, so I thought, how hard could this be?
“I am a customer service manager for a bank and on Monday while assisting a teller with a transaction I noticed the man standing before me had the same name that was engraved in the ring. I thought, could it be this easy?
“I said, ‘This may seem strange to you, but I would like to ask you some unusual questions.” He looked at me a little strange but said OK.
“You didn’t graduate from high school here in Bakersfield did you?"
"No, Clovis High School."
"Do you still have your class ring?"
"No, I lost it a long time ago."
I explained my father had found a class ring and I thought it may be his but I needed to be sure and wanted to ask a few more questions.
“There was a sport insignia on the ring, what sport?"
"Tennis."
"What color stone was on the ring?"
"Blue."
"You graduated in 1993, didn’t you?"
"Yes, you really do have my class ring!
“The owner went on to tell me he participated in a tennis tournament in Bakersfield in high school and must have lost it then. He had given it up for lost a long time ago and was excited about getting it back.”
•••
It had been awhile since I’d heard from Antoinette. There are probably others in town who qualify, but Antoinette is like Cher. She’s almost one-name material.
Antoinette had owned Innerbody Works, a yoga studio in town. We used to go to her hot yoga class after work.
Hot yoga is perfect for middle-aged guys who are stiffer than wicker furniture. It’s regular yoga but the thermostat is set at about 105 degrees.
The only challenge is that if you sweat enough, your yoga mat turns into a Slip ’N Slide and with one grasshopper-like move, you are off to the races.
Old guys like to sweat. If they can touch their toes or wrap a foot around the lamp post, even better.
Hot yoga didn’t last long. I think we liked it better than Antoinette. She probably saw her first PG&E bill and said, “Hot yoga is about to cool down.”
Antoinette sold the studio and a whole bunch of stiff guys became less flexible than a row of park benches.
Now, she has a new gig. It still involves tinkly music and incense, but it’s called Thai Massage, which, Antoinette explained, is yoga for the lazy.
Her new studio is located across the street from St. Francis Church. You can get a massage, then go across the street and confess to Father Craig.
She basically does yoga on you. I know how that sounds — it sounds like the vice squad might burst through the windows in the middle of a session — but it’s actually legal in all states but Alabama and in the Texas Hill Country (a joke). Antoinette twists, bends and presses you into positions that I thought only 105 degrees and a slippery mat would allow.
The woman is strong. I wouldn’t get sideways with her for anything. The massage was pleasurable. I’m not saying I could touch my toes afterward, but I felt so good, I didn’t care.
It’s worth checking out. She’s not cheap, but sometimes this stuff isn’t.
Opinions expressed are those of Herb Benham, not The Californian. His column appears Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Call him at 395-7279 or e-mail him at hbenham@bakersfield.com.