Old Jim

The other day, early July 2026, I was going through my jewelry box. I’d come across a very nice emerald and diamond ring, but I have no memory of where it came from. So I’m now trying to decide whether to give it to family or sell it …..

emerald & diamond ring

BUT — I also found a small, old locket. Of course I opened it, and there was one picture-on the left side. Was I amazed to see my college days fiancé Jim Whitmire!

Of course I stopped and thought about those days. We were at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA. Jim was so often at the MU (Student Union) and playing cards there. He used to make a small thing of it, but one day there was a picture in the Daily Iowa of students there — Jim playing cards included. Proof! Boy, did I kid him then!

We did get engaged at some point back then, but I’m sure this emerald ring is not from that event! Actually, I don’t remember the ring, but I surely would have given it back when we went our separate ways!

Jim was in law school and I was working on my BA and then went to teach at Washington HS in Cedar Rapids. I now remember have written years ago about that time. I graduated and could have found a job almost anywhere — languages were a big deal at that time thanks to the launch of Sputnik in 1957/8. But Jim was very concerned, really wanted me to stay near Iowa City. And I did.

At some point, he had to go to Chicago for a short time for a bar exam class, and I went to visit. I don’t know if I drove or took the train. But I definitely remember seeing Wrigley Field and was so impressed, could hardly wait to tell Mom about seeing it — she’d turned me into a Cubs fan as a kid!

However, a year or two later, after Jim and I broke up, I went to the Philippines to teach, and flew from O’Hare. I visited my gal friends, Jo Garrard and Sally Livingston, Mason City heighbors who were at the time living in Chicago. Not sure they are still with us on now, 2026…. I tried but could not find them!

So off I went to what turned out to be a wonderful future!