BlogFriday: Stupidity (how appropriate)
This week’s BlogFriday word is stupidity. Oh how fitting. Last night was all about stupidity. Due to various circumstances that arose recently, I was in immediate need of two specific items: my birth certificate and the ipod shuffle that used to second as usb drive (it held an important document not saved elsewhere (good idea right?)). I realized my need for both of these things while at work, but worried not because I knew right where they would be at home.
Within five minutes of arriving home, however, I realized I actually had no fucking clue where either item was, and thus began a mad search that involved much yelling (WHY ARE YOU JUST SITTING THERE! HELP ME LOOK!), multiple phone calls (I specifically remember letting you borrow it. I didn’t? Never? Shit.), and many desperate ideas (I highly doubt either of these things is lost in the toe of a shoe I never wear, but you never know).
I was annoyed at the situation, but mostly I was angry with my own faulty brain. I felt so stupid for having absolutely no clue, not even an inkling, of where these things might be. Brad tried to tell me that people lose stuff all the time, it’s just poor luck that I’d need these two things so badly on the same evening. But I see it as a sign that my brain is no longer very sharp. I used to be intelligent and I had a great memory. Now I just feel stupid and forgetful.
Eventually I did find the ipod. It was in a shoe box full of miscellaneous odds and ends. A couple months ago I bought a new purse at TJMaxx, as well as a pair of shoes, and I sat in the parking lot moving all my things from the old purse to the new. Everything that didn’t fit into the new purse or was deemed necessary for relocation was put into the shoe box. At home the shoes came out, but I never did get around to sorting through the other trinkets. Turns out the ipod was one of those forgotten trinkets.
The birth certificate? I still have no idea. I’ve tried every possibility I can think of, even asked the HR department today if they maybe forgot to return it to me when I started my job. No, it’s just lost. Gone forever.
You’ll probably try to tell me that I’m not stupid, these things happen, but I am very disappointed in my brain. And ashamed. And I’m really feeling very stupid (and annoyed) about the whole thing.
November 28th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
Oh, I can so relate.
Although, I’ve lost my birth certificate several times. It’s one of those things that is important, but only when you need it for something. Otherwise, when do you really think about it?
November 28th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
I don’t think anyone honestly knows where their birth certificate is. I have no idea…I know I used to have my mom hold on to it for safe keeping, but then needed it to go to Canada or get a passport or something, so it is in my possession at the moment. But I have no idea where.
I also recently found my sister’s birth certificate….why in the hell would I have that at my apartment?!
November 28th, 2007 at 5:31 pm
I didn’t lose my birth certificate… the Social Security Administration office where I live did. For five weeks, it was missing, and when they found it, sent back to me with a note saying essentially, “sorry, we misfiled it”. They weren’t supposed to file the original copy, but that’s what they did.
Moral: Don’t let a government agency hold on to your important papers for more than an hour. If you have to send it to them, ask for them to return it promptly. Throwing in that it’s your ONLY copy helps.
I thought I was going to have to contact the City and County of San Francisco, CA, to get another copy for something like $25.
I hope you find it soon, if you haven’t already.
November 29th, 2007 at 8:18 am
Yeah but I just got my birth certificate from my mom a few months ago to use for work. How in three months did it get completely lost? It’s nowhere, I’ve looked everything I can think of.
November 29th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
I have a big problem with absentmindedness of my actions when my brain is going overtime on something else.. I regularly have to catch myself just before I put butter in my cereal and pour milk into the toaster. Or before putting my keys in the refrigerator and carrying lettuce half way out to my car. So the first place I’d be looking is the freezer or some place like that.
November 29th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
You are working full time and going to school and you recently relocated. You’re have accrued flake-time (which should be added to comp time, sick time, and vacation time).
December 3rd, 2007 at 7:02 pm
i know this, his happens to me all the time ~ ALL … THE … TIME and i get so mad at myself, how can i be so stupid, arggghhhh ~ i think the brain can only hold so much information and when you’re doing a lot (which you are), other stuff takes a vacation for a while. i have also found stuff in the fridge freezer and the refrigerator and in the very logical place that it should be, maddening i tell you.
be gentle with yourself honey. xox