Lost Items

At my high school graduation, Mr. Padmos wrote of me that my friendliness helped me out when asking the people that I’ve met “if they’ve seen your keys, your wallet, your computer, your backpack, your clarinet, or your glasses.”

What’s the point?  I lose everything.  I usually get my stuff back, but not always.  For example, this past summer, I lost my blue hydro flask that I had owned for two years.  I had lost that water bottle around campus many times, but it always showed up again.  Unfortunately, after July 2023, I would never see that water bottle again.

Losing my water bottle was inconvenient because that meant that I no longer had a water supply always at my immediate disposal.  However, when I lose something more valuable, I start to freak out.  On September 26, 2023, I got off work and realized that I was missing something rather important—my lanyard and my keys.  Losing my keys came with a price.  My room key is $50, my lounge key is $100, and a car key replacement could be as much as $350.  Losing my keys could cost me half of $1,000.

I looked through my backpack and briefcase—once, twice, thrice.  No luck.  I searched the cafeteria—once and then again.  Equally no luck.  I entered the library, the place I had been before the caf.  I asked the circulation staff and looked around.  Nada.  To the guard shack!  Zilch!

As I was walking to the guard shack, I found Dimarco, who recommended that I grab my spare key and check my car.  Perhaps I left my keys in my car.  So, I trekked a mile up to C.W. Smith Hall to spend one second in my room to grab the key and trek a mile back down to my car.  Searching my car felt useless because I found no keys there either.

This search began to be discouraging.  Where in the world were my keys?  I need to drive my car, and I can’t get locked out of my room.  With saving for IBEX, I certainly can’t afford to pay the fines.

Oh wait!  I remember!  I met with Miss T. earlier to find journal articles for an assignment.  Did I leave my keys on her desk?

I walked back to the Powell Library, and before I even opened the door, I saw that there they were—my keys on Miss T.’s desk—right where I left them.  Why didn’t I think of that before traversing the entire campus?  And why did I freak out instead remaining calm?  Regardless, praise the Lord!  I found my keys.