I've never thought of myself as a particularly careless person, but the past few days are giving me pause. First, there was the iPod touch. And then yesterday, D's watch.
Back in Australia, D's mom worked for Cartier before she passed away from cancer in 2002. Before she died, she got D two watches: a Cartier watch and a Baum & Mercier watch. When D's house got broken into in July, the burglars stole the Baum & Mercier watch. He was absolutely devastated, saying that was the only thing he had which was irreplaceable due to the sentimental value. Thankfully, they didn't get the Cartier watch.
On Monday, I went to the Cartier store near my office to pick up the watch which was being serviced. That night, I went to the ballet at the Royal Opera House with some friends, and showed the watch to one of them. I went back to D's that night, but forgot to give him the watch. Last night, I remembered, and went into my bag to get it. No watch. I turned my bag inside out, went through every pocket, and it was nowhere to be seen. I panicked. I thought that maybe it could possibly be in my desk drawer where I keep the bag, but wasn't hopeful. Then I started thinking back to the Royal Opera. I had shoved my coat in my bag and pulled it out as we were leaving. Could the watch have possibly fallen out?
Oh. My. God.
I'm sitting on the floor, hugging D's knees, sobbing about how horrible I felt, about how I couldn't believe I could possibly be so careless with something so important. He, to his credit, was completely calm, telling me it wasn't my fault, that it was okay. I knew, however, it wasn't. This was the only thing he had that really meant something to him. And did I mention that today is the six year anniversary of his mother's death? My timing was impeccable.
This morning, I scoured my desk drawer, but to no avail. Hoping against hope, I called the Royal Opera to check with the lost and found. I described the watch, and the guy whistled as I mentioned it was Cartier, in a red velvet Cartier bag, please-oh-please tell me you have it.
After an agonizing five minute wait which felt like a lifetime, he got back on the line. They have it.
Thank God for the honesty of strangers. Thank God someone turned it in.
Adding insult to injury, I worked out with my personal trainer at the old gym for the last time yesterday - he gave me a free session - and I am incredibly sore as a result. This, of course, was not helped by the fact that I could not unclench my muscles until just now.
Posted By: Jenny*in*London
Comments to this post:
10/15/2008 01:45
Whew
I am so glad for you. Your guardian angel was doing overtime. Out of curiousity, how did you get to be an American girl in a metric world?
That must have been horrible for you - I sympathise hugely! But, it is nice to hear that there are others out there who do hand things in!
Just seen your post about the iPhone by the way - what rotten luck! I had been thinking about making you an offer for it anyway if you still had it ... shame!
That must have been horrible for you - I sympathise hugely! But, it is nice to hear that there are others out there who do hand things in!
Just seen your post about the iPhone by the way - what rotten luck! I had been thinking about making you an offer for it anyway if you still had it ... shame!
That must have been horrible for you - I sympathise hugely! But, it is nice to hear that there are others out there who do hand things in!
Just seen your post about the iPhone by the way - what rotten luck! I had been thinking about making you an offer for it anyway if you still had it ... shame!
That must have been horrible for you - I sympathise hugely! But, it is nice to hear that there are others out there who do hand things in!
Just seen your post about the iPhone by the way - what rotten luck! I had been thinking about making you an offer for it anyway if you still had it ... shame!
What a wonderful ending to a potentially horrible story!!!! I'm so honest like that. I always seek out the person who has lost something or turn it in. I'm even always on Craigslist lost and found just so that I can keep my eyes open! Especially for pets! The watch sounds beautiful. My husband gave me his moms gold gucci watch and I adore it. I keep it close to my heart when I wear it and locked up in a safe when I'm not!
What a wonderful ending to a potentially horrible story!!!! I'm so honest like that. I always seek out the person who has lost something or turn it in. I'm even always on Craigslist lost and found just so that I can keep my eyes open! Especially for pets! The watch sounds beautiful. My husband gave me his moms gold gucci watch and I adore it. I keep it close to my heart when I wear it and locked up in a safe when I'm not!
What a wonderful ending to a potentially horrible story!!!! I'm so honest like that. I always seek out the person who has lost something or turn it in. I'm even always on Craigslist lost and found just so that I can keep my eyes open! Especially for pets! The watch sounds beautiful. My husband gave me his moms gold gucci watch and I adore it. I keep it close to my heart when I wear it and locked up in a safe when I'm not!
What a wonderful ending to a potentially horrible story!!!! I'm so honest like that. I always seek out the person who has lost something or turn it in. I'm even always on Craigslist lost and found just so that I can keep my eyes open! Especially for pets! The watch sounds beautiful. My husband gave me his moms gold gucci watch and I adore it. I keep it close to my heart when I wear it and locked up in a safe when I'm not!
What a wonderful ending to a potentially horrible story!!!! I'm so honest like that. I always seek out the person who has lost something or turn it in. I'm even always on Craigslist lost and found just so that I can keep my eyes open! Especially for pets! The watch sounds beautiful. My husband gave me his moms gold gucci watch and I adore it. I keep it close to my heart when I wear it and locked up in a safe when I'm not!
What a wonderful ending to a potentially horrible story!!!! I'm so honest like that. I always seek out the person who has lost something or turn it in. I'm even always on Craigslist lost and found just so that I can keep my eyes open! Especially for pets! The watch sounds beautiful. My husband gave me his moms gold gucci watch and I adore it. I keep it close to my heart when I wear it and locked up in a safe when I'm not!
I heard there was an issue with double posting!!! I swear I only clicked submit once on that comment!!! LOL You're gonna be number one on the most active list with all those 24 comments! EP is being fickle today.
you are such a great story teller.... seriously, i was on the edge of my seat. second career as a writer, perhaps?
i'm really glad that someone turned in the watch. for both of your sakes. the only thing worse than losing your own stuff is losing stuff that someone else entrusts you with!
Like another poster said, I, too, was on the edge of my seat waiting for the outcome of the story! Thank goodness the person who found the watch was honest! I can only imagine how bad you felt! Take a deep breath.....I'm sure you won't really feel better until you hand the watch over to D!
I was in tears by the 4th paragraph! Thanks goodness someone found and returned the watch! I'll bet that watch doesn't come off D's wrist any time soon.
