This brings us to the true fairy tale about Lydia Surface. Lydia has been a Disneyland, California cast member (employee) for the past 27 years. Upon her 20 year anniversary she was presented with a 14K gold ring with a raised figure of Mickey Mouse within an oval on the front. Of all her recognitions, Lydia was most proud to wear her "Golden Ears" award and wore it happily for seven years. She seldom took it off except at night.

As so often happens, one exception occurred on August 8, 2002 when Lydia went to Huntington Beach, California to enjoy a summer swim. She found the water cold and her ring started to slip so she removed it and placed it for safe keeping in the pocket of her jeans. By now you have probably guessed that after she got dressed, the valued ring was missing. Lydia was heartbroken and while a replacement could be purchased, she only wanted her original award.

One month later during September, a member of the West Coast Prospectors, "Squeek" Gentner, was walking along Huntington Beach swinging her detector. When she scooped a signal her basket revealed a gold ring with a smiling Mickey Mouse. An engraved name and date gave Squeek the encouragement she needed to trace the owner. Sqeek contacted the director of cast activities at Disneyland and they located Lydia and her date of employment.

When Lydia was contacted she couldn't believe someone had actually found her ring and intended to give it back. The two ladies made arrangements to meet and this very special ring is now comfortably settled on its owner's finger. Subsequently Lydia attended a West Coast monthly meeting and related to the members the true fairy tale of her returned ring. Forever filled with thanks and gratitude, Lydia is convinced that Mickey Mouse surely lives in the land of magic.