I read an article by Arlee Bird last week how he wrote a blog post about losing his stapler as a way to fill in a blank page. I told him I would do the same.
Yes, I have lost my stapler, two as a matter of fact, but more importantly I lost a story I wrote. It was about a peeping tom. Yeah, I know, kind of ucky subject matter, but it was something I wanted to put here, in this blog post. I spent nearly 2 hours searching through all my files, recycle bin, even my inbox and I can't find the damned thing anywhere.
I hate when I lose things. Especially stories. I did this once before as well. Lost a chapter or two from one of my novels, handwritten, so I know it's in a pad somewhere, but do you think I could find it? Nooooooo. And I mean, there's only so many places it could be. But I looked and checked and double checked and nothing. Those lost chapters were part of the first climax of the novel and pretty good. I could probably figure out what I wrote, but that's not really the point is it.
The point is -- I'm a loser. Well, you know what I mean. I lose things. And when I do, I think I'm losing my sanity. I lost a credit card a few weeks ago. I remember it was in the bag with the receipt, I took it out of the bag and put it somewhere (I thought on the counter). But I have absolutely no idea where I put it. I've searched the house, car, trash, washing machine, back pockets, front pockets, old bags, under the fridge (in case it fell) cupboards, and I can't find it anywhere. I am resigned it will turn up as soon as the new card comes in.
As for the missing chapters -- I'll find those after I publish the book, I'm sure.
As for the missing short story -- I have no clue what I did with it. I know I wrote it on my computer so it's not on paper anywhere because I sent it to a friend of mine. I checked my emails' attachments, every single 242 of them. I did a thorough search on my computer. Nothing, nada, zip, nowhere to be found.
Anyway, IF I find it, I'll probably put it up here at some point. If I don't find it, well, I guess you won't read it now will you.
Tell me -- Are you a loser? Do you ever find what you're missing?
2 comments:
All of us are losers in one sense. Long ago I lost the childhood illusions that everyone was my friend, that good triumphs in the end, that the world makes sense.
But we are also gainers: I have gained the sense of how precious a gift the few true friends in my life are. I have gained the knowledge that good can triumph if it never gives up. And I have gained the wisdom that the world can make sense if you but have the heart and will to make it do so.
As always a good post, Roland
I tend to misplace, rather than lose as a rule. When I analyze the fog I was walking in and retrace my steps, I'm usually able to find what I'm looking for. The one time that didn't work was when we lost two round trip tickets to Australia, obtained via Frequent Flier miles. That loss was a pure nightmare.
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