DEAR ABBY: My older son went golfing in Ann Arbor, Mich., in the fall of 1974, and while he was on the golf course he managed to lose his University of Michigan college ring.
Last fall (1996) he received a telephone call and a letter. It seems a maintenance man found his ring. It had been in the ground for 22 years and had only a slight dent in the band.
Can you imagine how many people had walked over that ground, and how many times a lawn mower had gone over that ring?
Abby, as a longtime reader of your column, I just wanted you to know that there are a lot of nice people in this world -- and miracles do happen. -- ARLENE HORVATH, LINCOLN PARK, MICH.
DEAR ARLENE: If there's anything I have learned from my readers over the years, it's that basic goodness dwells in most of them. And it's very uplifting to receive a letter that affirms this.