I have a problem
It doesn’t matter if you’ve known me for years or just days, you’ll know one thing for sure – I
have a problem losing things. It started out kind of innocent in my early teens. I’d leave my homework at home, my phone in the car. Sometimes I even ran out of gas (ok…so it happened 6 times). When I went off to college, I thought things would get better. They didn’t. I put a sign at my dorm door that said “Wallet? Keys? Phone?” to remind me of my belongings every time I left the room. It helped, but it wasn’t a cure.
As the years have gone on, and I have matured into all the responsibilities of an adult, I have yet to shed my inability to keep track of my things. Just this week, I’ve forgotten or lost the following:
- My toothbrush and scarf at Andrew’s apt in NYC
- My phone, keys and wallet in the desk at work
- My jacket at an event last night for TFA
If you have followed me on the blog in recent months, you’ll also know I left my bags on a train, my phone in a taxi cab and lost my debit card on a street corner. If you’ve known me for years, you’ll also know I once left my computer on an airplane in South Africa and my iPod on a Southwest trip to L.A. In Berkeley, I once even forgot to move my car from a parking spot and walked home from campus instead. Two days later, as I walked out to get my car, and remembered I had driven it to school. Two tickets on my windshield - you would think I’ve learned my lesson.
All these shenanigans lately got me thinking…maybe there’s something wrong with me. Like, really something wrong – a disorder of some sort. I looked it up online and could only find it as a major symptom of ADHD, which is possible I guess, but not the red herring I was looking for.
In reflecting on how to self-medicate my self-inflicted, imaginary disorder, I have decided to cut out the middle man (or woman) and start a log of my forgetfulness. I figure any good psychologist I could pay to hear my worries would give me that advice. Perhaps keeping track of my losing track will trigger something in my mind that will slow me down and keep things in better order. If you have a better idea, send it my way.
I just can’t live like this anymore. It’s getting out of hand. Help.
- Jeff
Oh, honey – your problem is juggling too many balls. Slow down and put your reminders in your phone. Phone in pocket? Jacket on back? Computer in pack? You know the drill. Good luck sweetie! Mom
remember the time we went to mexico and you left your passport on the plane and realised as we had to go through immigration.
i love you.
i love all the stories of lost items. i love you!
Jeff,
Here’s the way I see it: If it weren’t for this flaw, you would be perfect. Because nobody can be perfect, you will always have this flaw. Alternatively, you can fix this one, but you willl have to accept a flaw of some other kind. I can offer lots of suggestions from my own list.
I’m sorry, but it’s hereditary. It’s like a replay of my younger years. It does get better, I haven’t lost my keys or wallet for some time. (2 years) My red wallet really has helped.
Love ya,
Dad
remember when you left that jacket you bought at HM at TFA offices while we were interviewing and someone had to grab it for you and gave it to you (to return to HM because it wasn’t that cool) when we came back for induction? Oh honey, you’re so endearing that it’s almost unbearable
Miss you, kiddo!
I used to forget or leave items behind all of the time. A great trick is to always take a quick look at your taxi seat, bus bench or computer desk as you are leaving. The motion is kind of awkward at first but it sure beats running down a bus as it leaves with your dropped wallet.
You couldn’t loose me even if you tried your damndest.
The way it is.