an upsetting development

Well, it finally happened. For those who know me, you know this is long overdue. I have had this coming for many many years, which makes the way it happened even stranger. I thought it would be in some crowded bar or restaruant, at a shopping mall, or even on some form of public transportation. But not like this. I lost my wallet, most likely to a pickpocket.

Jen and I were at the Narodni Trida metro stop. She went to a stand to put minutes on her phone and I told her I was going to buy a coke. Coke transaction went well. Gave the woman 100 krowns and she gave me a Coke. Afterwards I put my wallet in my coat pocket and Jen and I headed to brunch. We ate brunch. It was delightful. I had an Irish coffee and chicken with blue cheese and broccoli. I was thinking about how I would come home and listen to Jethro Tull and drink tea and lesson plan. I also wanted to go to the Globe and possibly splurge on a book. I was full of food and vim for the remainder of the day. We call for the check. I reach for my wallet, no wallet. This baffled me, because I knew I had it when I paid for the Coke. So for the first ten minutes I didnt really panic, because it made no sense to me. I left Jen at the restaurant and walked back to the metro stop, scanning the streets, looking under cars, even looking in the garbage can where I threw away my Coke can. No wallet. Jen had to go to an ATM and get money for both of our brunches and while I sat there in the restaurant waiting for her, embarassed, I realized that it really was gone.

I left this wallet on the bar counter of many a watering hole in my day. I left it at the Garage Door probably ten times and either Jim would pick it up for me or the bartenders would just hold it until I came the next day and I wouldnt even have to ask, they would just wordlessly hand it to me. One time I thought I left it on the roof of my car while I was getting gas. Topaz and I were going to Crazy Mocha on Ellsworth and when I went to pay for a coffee, I realized it was gone. So we drove slowly down the streets, looking for where an unassuming brown leather wallet, purchased by a vendor at Camden Market in London two years ago, may have skittered to a stop. We looked under cars, next to trees. No wallet. Back at the gas station and on the verge of desperation, I looked under the seats and there it was, nestled between the middle compartment and the passenger seat. I've lost expensive purses, numerous school IDs, more rings than I can count, keys, and hats. I've broken or lost four cameras. I'm a forgetful person. So, losing my wallet like this is especially frustrating.

There is the possibilty I missed my coat pocket when I tried to put my wallet in. But I've never missed before. It's a big pocket. I prefer to think I was pickpocketed. Narodni Trida is a really busy area. Plus, if I think this, I won't have to start doing hand-eye coordination exercises to improve my hand to pocket delivery.

I'm sad about the money and I'm sad about the metro card, which is expensive, and I'm sad about the credit cards and money cards, because I essentially have three dollars to live on right now and no means to access any more cash, which is disturbing. I'm sad about all the cards and pictures in the wallet: pictures from home and business cards from Southside shops or 7-11 Big Gulp cards. But mostly I'm sad about the wallet itself, because it was one of my favorite things. Obviously I don't put a lot of stock in possessions, judging by how often I lose them, but I bought it in London and it was old-looking and leathery-smelling, and lovely and very "me." I hope whoever found or took it didnt just take the money. I hope it finds a good home.