One Little Way To Find Lost Stuff

Hana with her security blanket
PHOTO FROM TANNYA JOAQUIN

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been ready to leave the house and then thought, “Oh wait, where are my car keys, my phone, my wallet and (insert other necessary device here)?”

That’s precisely the problem. I’m constantly switching key pieces of my life from workout bag to purse to laptop bag to tote. It can be a vicious circle.

Sometimes it’s hard for me to remember where in the world I left something. Murphy’s Law: The more pressed for time I am, the greater the probability that I have something MIA that I can’t leave home without.

My car keys and iPhone are perfect examples. Smart technology makes me complacent. I don’t bother to think about where I put my keys because I can simply walk up to my Prius and my car will open the doors for me.

Seriously. That’s how I know if my keys are in whatever bag I have with me at the moment.

Along the same lines, when I can’t remember where my iPhone is, I see if my car picks it up on Bluetooth or, if that doesn’t work, I can resort to the low-tech option of having my husband call my phone.

I recently went weeks without knowing where my wallet was. I remember taking it out of my beach bag, since I really only needed my ATM card and driver’s license. But I couldn’t recall where I put it.

I got away without having my wallet for a while — until I had an appointment with a new doctor and needed my insurance cards. That necessity motivated me to scour my home.

I searched every bag I had used and looked in my favorite places to stash random, important items to no avail. As if on cue, my daughter then asked, “Mommy, what are you looking for?”

I answered “My wallet.” She went right over to a Hello Kitty lunchbox she likes, opened it and there it was. Mommy’s wallet.

I was both relieved and amused. You see, my daughter likes to “squirrel away” things. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve opened up my makeup bag and found no lipstick, missing brushes and (insert other necessary primping item here).

The funny thing is, unlike her mommy, she has the memory of an elephant when it comes to where she stashed stuff.

That came in really handy during the recent rolling blackouts. My daughter had a little flashlight stored in a bag in her bedroom. Luckily, she was more prepared than her parents.

At least I can laugh at the irony of the situation. Every night, my daughter forgets where she placed her favorite blanket. That means I have to do another sweep of the house or else she won’t sleep.

Is there an app to track blankets?

tjoaquin@hawaiinewsnow.com