So, as I prepared for bed last evening, I searched for my cell phone and could not find it. It has happened before, so I simply dialed my cell phone number from my land line and waited for the familiar ring tone that identified its location. Well, there was no ring. After looking in my car, searching familiar locations, and trying the ring tone approach several times again, I went into panic mode. You see, I need my phone next to my bed at night to monitor my pacemaker that submits a report to my cardiologist daily, somewhere around 2:00 AM. It also sits on my recharging stand to refresh the battery as a secondary necessity. So, it's late in the evening, I'm ready for bed, and I'm stressed out over the lost phone. As I try to fall asleep, I rehash my activities of the day and possible locations I might have lost the phone, and where I was at with the phone in my hand as a last recollection. I decided it must be at the VA, where I had my appointment with Father Dave, Catholic Chaplin and spiritual leader for Veterans in Northeast Indiana. I had a restless night, constantly waking up deliberating my predicament and potential outcomes, disgusted with myself for being so careless, and dreading a sleep deprived continuation of my problem at sunrise. I got up earlier than usual, did my morning routine in the bathroom, made breakfast and fed the cat, and then called my cell phone only to hear the familiar ring tone go unanswered. I thought about my prior day with Father Dave, remembered I had the phone in hand inside the Chapel prior to our spiritual meeting, and concluded that I may have inadvertently left the phone on a black covered chair that matched the matt finish of my phone cover on the iPhone 8 I have owned for years. Well, I made the hour drive to the regional VA, walked quickly through the waiting area and check-in compartments, down the hallway to the Chapel. Opening the door to an empty chapel I quickly went to the rear when our meeting was held, stared at the black chairs as I approached, and there, almost completely blended into the seat covering was my face down I phone, resting in peace in a place of worship. Relief was an understatement, as my stress level returned to normal, and I was relieved to recover the misplaced Phone. Being in a house of worship I thanked the Lord for his help, slipped a few bucks in the collection box, and returned to my car for the journey home. So, the lesson I learned is that there are three important pieces of personal property a person must constantly be aware of when out and about: Wallet, Cell Phone, and car keys.

I have had a pair of nice Serengeti Navigator sunglasses since 1995. I've misplaced them more than one time. Once I left them on the bench in front of my locker at my golf club, went home, and not finding them, went back to the club, amazed to see them still sitting there.

The oddest time, however, was at my car dealership. After waiting for maintenance on my car to be finished I looked around and couldn't fine my sunglasses. I looked everywhere in the dealership that I'd been and couldn't find them. Finally I asked somebody in the lounge if they'd seen them. They told me they were on my head. I NEVER put my glasses or sunglasses up on my head, but that day I had, and forgot that I had. No wonder I couldn't find them. I was thankful to find them but felt like a total ditz.

Although, it is worse when finding something, wondering if it was what you were looking for in the first place. (I confess to having moments of panic at that moment.)

I do notice some slippage regarding short term memory. When I was younger, I could read a script and carry through from start to finish on stage. Now, when I am looking for information, I forget in the first couple of pages and get lost in what I am reading at the moment

"Let me get back to you on this. It will be at three in the morning. Thanks"