PRIZED POSSESSION

This is the dream of a 54-year old woman:

My husband Louie and I are walking around Toronto on holiday. He suggests we go to a restaurant we used to eat in and the owners come out and say they have something for me. They give me a jewel box, and in it is my grandmother's diamond ring. I cry from happiness. But they tell me, 'We've had this ring for five years and you haven't come for it-- how can you say it's valuable to you?'

I say, 'I didn't know it was gone!'

The woman says angrily, 'You'd better take care of it, because you could lose it.'

I asked Louis whether I should wear it, or put it in my purse for safekeeping. He says the purse. Then he says he doesn't like the restaurant we're in, so we go to another one. But when the next restaurant owner comes out to greet us, I realize, my God, I've left the purse with the ring behind! 'How could you do that?' the owner demands. 'Lose your most prized possession!'

When I tell him, 'I can get it back,' he says, 'No you'll never have it again, you lost your chance.' And as the dream dissipates, I wake up bereft, saying over and over, 'But I will, I will, I will.'