Three simple things
Most of the things I lose aren't gone in any single event that I can put my finger on. I never think "Oh my god it's gone!" and ring the police. You're more likely to find me muttering "Where is it?" repeatedly whilst rummaging through boxes of redundant miscellany.

My ipod is the most recent example - I had it with me whilst visiting my parents at Christmas and I've not seen it since. Did I leave it there? Was it stolen? Did it drop out of my bag? Is it sat in a box of things that I've "tidied" away? I only noticed it was missing when I next wanted to use it.

Similar with my watch, a simple identity bracelet style with a thick chain and a tiny face set into the bar. I saw it in a magazine when I was 19, cut out the picture and searched high and low for it until I eventually got it for my 21st birthday. I've looked for another one the same and Guess now only make hideously over "bling-ed" affairs which aren't anything like my beautiful timepiece. If you ever see a sleek ID bracelet watch in silver - please let me know.

Because it was my prized possession I didn't use it all the time and would save it for "best". Did I store it somewhere too safe after I last wore it? Did I get shit-face and lose it staggering home one night only to assume I'd taken it off and put it away when I awoke the next morning? Was it stolen or accidently thrown away with something else?

This has always happened with me - the earliest item that I remember losing like this was a blue reversible egg, that folded out to become a beautiful red triceratops. It was around 1988 and twenty years on I'd still love to know where it is. Did my mum throw it out when we moved? (she doesn't remember doing so) did some jealous kid take it? Is it boxed away under the eaves in my parents house?

It makes me so frustrated to think about these things. The kind of angry helplessness that can only be expressed be tensing up your muscles until you're shaking but immobile. I still dream of finding these things, tucked away in a box or hidden down the back of something. It seems ridiculous but I can't let them go because I can't be sure they are actually lost. I'll often be hoping to to find them when looking for something else and it's that hope and disappointment that is so tiring.

Well, I'm in a crappy mood now so I'm not even going to make a joke about length... Well, maybe a small one.
( e.m.m.y. foxtrot uniform charlie kilo india tango, Fri 15 Aug 2008, 12:24, 1 reply)

Oh God
I'm exactly the same, you've basically written what i was thinking for me, thanks! it's the dreams that do it for me, them and that voice in the back of my head trying to decide whether it's my fault that i've lost something and if i should be upset.
(LongTomBadTom Does Makes Says Thinks, Fri 15 Aug 2008, 13:49, closed)