¶ Lost and --
Fifteen minutes ago I got off the #2 Northbound bus that drops me a couple of blocks from my office. It was raining; I put up my umbrella and hurried to get into my building.
Once here, I started my routine: plug in computer, stack neatly-ish my files for today, put my lunch in a drawer for later. I opened the little pocket where I put my cell phone and iPod and…
oh no.
empty.
I was listening to my iPod while I waited for the bus, and I know I slipped it in there, and my phone was there too. I remember it clearly. I fell out on the bus.
Let’s see: replacement iPod = $150. Replacement cell phone = $50? Replacement headphones = $100 (yes, really)1. Suddenly, the cost benefit of riding the bus has, well, evaporated. Riding the bus every day this term was supposed to save me $160. Replacement cost of stuff I lost today is $300, so I’m in the hole $120.
Unless… unless someone kindly chooses to turn them in to the bus driver and they arrive in the lost and found tomorrow. That would be nice. That would be wonderful.
I suppose now is the time to exercise faith, but I’m having a hard time getting past panic. I’m kicking myself for not checking everything before I got off the bus; I’m blaming myself for not using a more secure pocket.
Mostly I’m aching that I probably won’t be able to replace the iPod nor the headphones. And I’m hurting because I have no one to blame but my own… I don’t know what. Stupidity isn’t the right word, nor does anything else seem to accurately describe it. I’m blaming myself just because.
Nuts.
UPDATE: The bus driver found the stuff, found Kate’s number on the phone, and called to tell her about it. I’ll pick it up tomorrow (if it is open on the 4th) or on Monday. Whew!
Prayer works.
UPDATE #2: Following the instructions from the bus driver, I went down to the lost and found today (Monday, July 7) to pick up my stuff. It wasn’t there. Because it was out of my way, I drove instead of taking the bus, so I couldn’t ask Ms. Bus Driver Lady about it.
Maybe tomorrow?
UPDATE #3: Not yet. And I have not seen the regular bus driver since the incident. Perhaps she’s grabbed the goods and has used them to fund a fugitive flight to Mexico?
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1 The headphones were expensive but they were well worth it. They were Shure e2c headphones that allowed me to in noisy environments (like, you know, my own home) and still concentrate on my work. A little quiet Arvo Part was just enough to keep the sound of whatever external disturbances away and to let me read or write with full attention. These headphones allowed me to have soft-slow-quiet music drown out the cacophony of my life. Now? Now I don’t know what I’m going to do.
HEADPHONE UPDATE: Um, I guess I didn’t lose the headphones after all. I found them in the bottom of my bag. The cellphone and the iPod, however, were undoubtedly left behind on the bus.
3 July 2008
# Comment by renaissance girl on Jul 3, 11:45 PM:
i’d have freaked out. good ending, though.
my wallet made its way away from me last week. so far, no re-emergence. sigh.