Thursday, August 7, 2008

My Husband's Keeper

Sunday night as I laid in bed I listened to the rain smash against the window. It hit so hard I thought the drops might actually break the glass. The thunder boomed and the lightening lit up the room. The rain we had been waiting for had finally come and I snuggled down into my pillow and let the storm lull me to sleep.

I awoke the next morning in a rush. The carpet cleaners were coming at 8:00 and I had to get all of the furniture out of the living room, myself and the boys dressed and fed, and all of us into the basement and out of the way. I rushed around the house in a whirlwind as the hubby tried to get ready for work. Why did I set this up for a Monday morning? Ugh.

The cleaners arrived and began their setup just as Todd was about to leave for work. I noticed Todd frantically searching for something and asked what he was looking for this time.

"My keys! Where the heck did I put my keys?" he said.

Oh good Lord. Here we go again. I thought the little hook I had installed in the kitchen would solve this dilemma, but it clearly did not. You see, you have to actually PUT the keys on the hook in order for it to work.

"Well, when did you last have them?" I asked him like I had a thousand times before.

"When we got back from the boat ride last night I opened the door for everyone. Did you take them after that?" he asked me.

"No. You opened the door and then went back outside to clean up the boat. Did you take them back out with you?" I asked him back.

"Um. I don't know." he admitted.

So the search began. Because all the furniture was moved out of the first floor it made the search all the more difficult. We looked on every surface. I looked in the door (he has been known to open the door and leave the keys in the door overnight), looked on my dresser, looked on his dresser, checked his pants pockets, checked the floor, looked in the fridge (yep, he can be a little scatter brained), checked the pantry, looked in the bathrooms, looked in the basement. The keys were no where to be found.

"Did you check the truck? Maybe you left them in the truck." I suggested.

"I already checked there." he said,

"Well, did you check the bumpers of the cars? Maybe you just set them there and forgot about them." I kept asking. Clearly he did not like this suggestion because there was no response.

After almost 20 minutes of searching Todd grabbed the spare key off my key chain and took off for work.

At lunch time he stopped home to ask me if I had found them (nope) and then continue the search. He had his truck key, his house key, his parent's house key, his parent's cabin key, the key to his office building, his dad's warehouse key, garage keys and a million other keys on that key chain. It needed to be found.

"Where is your phone? Do you have your phone?" I wanted to know.

"Um. No. I don't know where that is either." he said sheepishly.

"Well, they are probably together then. Try calling your phone." I suggested.

He called and no deal. Either it was on vibrate (it usually is) or it was too far away to hear. Now he was really starting to panic. That phone is his life line. It is one of those palm piloty type phones. You know, phone, computer, appointment book, whole LIFE type of things. He lives by that thing. I was shocked that he hadn't noticed it was gone until now.

As I began making the boys' lunches I heard Todd say, "No way! Oh no!" I heard the back door open and Todd run outside. I looked out the window and saw the phone in Todd's hand.

"Where was it?" I asked as I joined him outside.

"On top of the minivan! I just got a flash of me setting them up there yesterday. I had so much crap in my pockets I set it all up there when I went to clean out the boat. I came running outside to look and sure enough!" he said.

"But it was POURING last night! It's not gonna work anymore! And I drove to the grocery store today! And past the lake! How did it stay on top of the car! The keys aren't there. They must have fallen off." I said in one long breath.

"It works! The phone works! The leather case must have somehow protected it from the rain." he yelled.

Todd went inside to finish the boys' lunches as I jumped in the car and retraced my drive to the grocery store and down past the lake. I drove as slowly as I could, sweeping the street with my eyes. I kept jumping out of the car the minute I saw anything that looked like a possibility. Nothing.

"Alright, St. Anthony, the only way I will ever find these keys is with your help. This is gonna be like spotting a needle in a haystack. This might very well be impossible. Help a woman out, would ya?" I begged.

I stopped in the grocery store parking lot and asked the cart boy if anyone found a set of keys. He ran inside to check. Nothing. I continued on. I drove out of the parking lot back onto the busy street, my eyes becoming blurry now from looking so frantically while trying to watch where I was driving at the same time.

Every time there was a bumpy area or a sharp turn I paid particular attention. Surely the keys would not have stayed on through all of this. This is nuts! Still I kept searching. I drove past the lake (completely ignoring the beautiful water for the first time) looking and looking. I started up North Point hill. A massive hill that always scared me when I rode my bike down it as a kid. It is so steep that they keys had to have fallen off here. Still I got to the top of the hill and no keys.

I made the turn at the top of the hill and spotted something shiny in the middle of the road.

"No WAY!" I said slamming the car into park and jumping out.

It was Todd's keys! They must have slid to the back of the minivan up the hill and then lost it around the corner. I can't believe I found them! YES! I am awesome! Thank you, St. Anthony! So good!

I sped back to the house and showed Todd. We were both shocked they were found. AND, the electric door opener still worked. How is it possible to leave your phone and keys out in the pouring rain all night, drive them around town for about 8 miles, and still find them in working condition? Boy, did we luck out! This has got to be a first! And hopefully, a last!

My husband has many great qualities, but keeping track of his things is not one of them. That has become my job. At work he is amazingly organized. He has over a hundred clients and files and averages 50 phone calls a day, managing it all beautifully. But he comes home and his brain goes on vacation. I've learned to accept it.

The next day when he came home from work I said to him, "Uh, Honey? Do you remember where you put the spare key that you had taken off my key chain?"

"Umm..."

57 comments:

Anonymous said...

LMAO Very Funny! I also put a little bowl on the table by the front door for keys and cell phones, but they never seem to find their way there..lol I can't really make fun of him though as I've been known to put the lemonade in the cabinet with the glasses, Ice cream in the fridge, etc... Amazing that you found them.

Kirst

PS I've bestowed you some bling on my site.

Indy said...

Great story. That's something my hubby would do too. I can't believe they still worked. Wow!

Anonymous said...

Awesomely told, Kathryn, and you kept me riveted to the end, which is kind of funny to say about a story of lost keys and phone, but it is true. I'm so glad you found them! We've both usually done pretty well with the key thing, but whenever there are lost keys, it usually is me. Tom was the one who put up a push pin near the door to hang his keys, but I don't, sometimes with mixed results. He has always been so great about helping me when I have lost them, and I'm sure your husband totally appreciates your help. After this one, I think you deserve a little something special, though, because this was a bit different from just setting them in a different corner of the counter or something.

Cassie said...

How lucky that you found them! That's amazing that you were able to spot the key shining from so far away. I admit, I've left the keys in the door (on the outside) overnight before. I totally thought that's where you were going with this story in the beginning, but I guess only I am scatterbrained enough to do that!

Mom24 said...

He is so lucky to have you! I can't believe how hard you looked for them. You are awesome! My hubby does stuff like that...I'm starting to find it not so endearing. Like the time he drove off with his wallet on top of his car. A neighbor a few streets over found it in the street in front of his house,meant to return it, but didn't get to it until a few days later. Mark had never missed it. I don't worry much about identity theft, he'll just hand them the info!

Kelly said...

THAT is an amazing story!!! Your hubby got really lucky!!

dawn klinge said...

Wow! What a story! I loved the way you told it, I can totally relate. Once, I put my wallet on the bumper of the car while I loaded the groceries, drove home several miles, and found the wallet still there!

Stephanie said...

You are a good wife. No way could I have driven to the store and back and my eyes are too bad to have even noticed keys! Wow!

I'm cracking up at the end of the story though. I laughed out loud at that one ;)

Melissa said...

HA HAA this is sooo my husband! He doesn't know where anything is. I have actualy had to start making him put his own laundry away because he never knows where his clothes are if he doesn't do it. He looses everything. :)

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

I'm not surprised in the least with the ending of the story!

And, way to have patience on that one. I don't know if I would have.

If hubby uses that little ring, he's guaranteed to find his keys. When he forgets, it's all on me.

Scrappy said...

Whew! That is so awesome that you found them... and that everything still worked after all of that rain.
I am glad it all worked out for you.

RiverPoet said...

Most impressive, Kathryn! Good going! Maybe if you start suggesting your husband has Alzheimer's, he might start paying more attention.

:-)

Peace - D

Kat said...

Riverpoet- He is actually worried about that. With my dad going through it, and now his dad is starting to show signs of it as well, he gets a little paranoid when this stuff happens. I really just think he is scatterbrained. He thinks, thinks, thinks all day at work and then lets everything go when he comes home. Airhead. ;)

MamaGeek @ Works For Us said...

Go play the lottery. NOW!

High Heeled Mama said...

Whew. What a story. Not sure I would have had the patience for such a search and rescue mission!

Anonymous said...

OMG that's hilarious. My husband "lost" all of his keys and had to go get them ALL remade from spares.....and 2 days later my one-year-old brought him the original set. I have no idea where she found them, but it was soooo funny.

Anonymous said...

hilarious. and...a daily occurrence...sigh...
xoxo

CC said...

Wow wow wow!!!!! God was looking out for you 2!!!

LdybugSammi said...

WOW! That is quite a story! St Tony is VERY helpful around here too.

Amy said...

Wow, I can not believe you found them!

Laura said...

Holy crap! What an awesome ending - glad the items were found. Sounds like something I would do...well, actually, have done!

I presented you with some bloggy-bling on the Fringe. Love your blog - thanks!

Cyndi said...

My husband is like that, too. Completely together at work and then at home not so much.

You are wonder woman for jumping in the car and finding those keys!

Homegrown Tribe said...

oh my... that's quite a story. I can not believe you found them. Wow!

brittany

Momisodes said...

WOW! First, brilliant story :)

Big high five for going on that trek to find his keys.

Second. Dude, my cell phone breaks if I jiggle my purse too vigorously! His cell phone making it out alive in the rain is a miracle! Or perhaps I need a palm pilot phone :)

kimmy said...

I have prayed to St. Anthony so many times and it usually works!

I can be scatter-brained sometimes. I need a car that can start just by the sound of my voice. Now, if I could just get the kids to listen to me first...

Have a good night!

Kimmy

Roxy Wishum said...

Men!!! That is a great story. I am jealous because my cell phone did not survive the rain. You are getting great practice for when your boys become teenagers.

Roxy Wishum said...

Men!!! That is a great story. I am jealous because my cell phone did not survive the rain. You are getting great practice for when your boys become teenagers.

Anonymous said...

What a story! Your husband is one lucky man.

Cynthia said...

Oh man...go you!

Bren said...

Hilarious! I can't believe they were there and they still worked!

Love the new look!!!

Robyn said...

My husband loses stuff all the time too. I'm glad you found everything and they still worked.

OHmommy said...

Oh my gosh..... I cant even read your post. I am all in awe at how cute your blog looks!

CUTE!!!

Brittany said...

Wow! That is amazing! Todd really does have an angel! :)

Anonymous said...

Such a man thing. And, we get in trouble for not being on top of them. St. Anthony of Padua is THE MAN. Way to give him the props & love. He takes good care of us.

Karen Deborah said...

what an incredible story!!
thanks for the lesson on feeds, I don't know what I set up, but I tried to do something, I'm so techno challenged.
kdmcgivney@bellsouth.net

Maryeliz said...

HA! Amazing that you found them. Yay, St. Anthony!

Anonymous said...

Cute, cute, cute new theme, too! I have something similar on another blog of mine that I really love.

Fire Hunt said...

I love your new layout:)

Anonymous said...

The Flowers are Awesome! Love the new designer digs. ;)

Unknown said...

First, this place looks great! Love your new look!

Second, I got my husband one of those valet thingys for his desk that charges his phone and ipod and holds change, the wallet, the keys and the watch, etc. He still misplaces his keys on occasion but not nearly as much as he used to.

You guys really did luck out! That Saint Anthony is awesome! ; )

Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional said...

I'm pretty sure you're married to MY HUSBAND.
That man loses everything!
I'm so glad you found everything, that's awesome! Is the phone ruined?
Love the new background, so pretty!

Tiffany said...

That is truly one of those "God is sooo good" moments! I am, however, convinced that you were actually talking about my husband! We aren't usually so lucky, but that was basically a page out of a day in his life!

BTW - Love the new background!

Anonymous said...

Too funny! I'm so glad you found the keys!

I LOVE the new look

Hilary said...

Great sleuthing, Kathryn. You really lucked out all around. And your blog looks wonderful!

Maureen Fitzgerald said...

I always plan stuff like that for Monday mornings too - I guess I figure I'll get organized over the weekend???

Anonymous said...

Great layout! Nice post! :)

lime said...

holy cow, that really is amazing that everything was recovered in working order!

Lisa said...

Oh. My. Gosh! That is amazing!!! Really, really amazing! My Hubby is bad at loosing stuff, and even worse at looking for stuff....but I'm the one that's bad with my keys!

Life in the Crazy Lane said...

Oh, my gosh! Are we married to the same man? How many times has my husband lost his keys, and then lost mine the next day? The rule in the house is now that my husband cannot borrow my keys. Ever.

imbeingheldhostage said...

That is the best!!!

Karen MEG said...

The phone, well, that was amazing enough, but the KEYS???? ON the ROAD? You are something awesome... I do my CSI thing at home on a daily basis for keys, but you taking it on the road is a whole other level LOL!!

My husband? He left the girl's pink DVD player on the roof of the minivan... no, it didn't survive!

Anonymous said...

I love a happy ending! (Your humor is awesome)

Unknown said...

And THIS is why I stress out about what would happen if I die before him......

Molly's Mom said...

I have called on St. Anthony a number of times myself...and I'm not even Catholic! Glad you found them, and glad I'm not the only one who has to keep track of the husband's stuff! :)

Jill said...

Men... I swear my husband would misplace his head if it wasn't attached... though oftentimes you'd never know as he doesn't use it. Go figure.

Anonymous said...

Oh that is AWESOME you found them both! I once put a photo album on top of the roof of my car (with beautiful old pics of my childhood) and drove away. I retraced my steps a billion times but never found it. I cried. :-(

Wendi said...

What an incredible story.
Amazing.
And yea, I can totally relate to the busy hubby whose brain goes on vacation when he walks in the door.
Sorry about your spare.
Have him retrace his steps.
LOL!

Words To Live By

Be grateful for each new day.
A new day that you have never lived before.
Twenty-four new, fresh, unexplored hours to use usefully and profitably.
We can squander, neglect, or use them.
Life will be richer or poorer by the way we use today.
Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could;
some blunders and absurdities crept in;
forget them as soon as you can.
Tomorrow is a new day.
You shall begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be
encumbered with your old nonsense.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson