Well actually it’s more, I have at
least one particular gift, but liked putting it that way around to lead
everyone into thinking that I am more talented than perhaps I actually am! (Hey
if we don’t believe in ourselves, who else will believe in us?)
Over the years, and I have several
reliable witnesses to this fact (well maybe they aren’t all so reliable, but as
the beneficiaries of my prowess in this particular field I am sure they will be
willing to testify should need be), I have become recognized for my ability to
find things.
In fact, to such an extent that
sometimes when my sons or my housemate lose something they only look cursorily
for a few seconds before calling me. Finding my own things is not quite as
efficient (probably only around 85%) but finding other people’s belongings, I’m
batting probably 99%. Recent events have only reinforced this belief in my
talents.
The first was when I dashed into the
Giannada Museum one day last week. I had
intended upon using a bank card for free entrance, but although I had the right
bank, had the wrong card so ended up paying the yearly fee instead (not that
bad for retirees and I would have donated something in any case had I had a
free entrance). This had me slightly slower than normal, secondly I actually
looked at the Roman ruins and explanations on the left side of the upper level
(something I never do) so went down the opposite staircase from usual. Then
decided to start the exhibition (Renoir) in an orderly manner and headed for
exhibit number one, only to find two women down on their hands and knees in the
dim (protective lighting for a master’s paintings is the norm) with their smart
phones turned to flashlight position. I had a funny feeling: half bent as I
went through my purse for the powerful flashlight that I always have on me
(thanks to my brother who loves flashlights – a mini one that is military
qualified resides in my purse), my eyes lit upon the object of their search – a
contact lense! Had either of them moved at all they would have stepped upon it
as it was between the two of them. How I saw it is a miracle as the marble
floors were beige with marks similar to this tile. As the wearer (and loser
thereof) of contacts I could very well understand her gratitude, but hey just
using my talent.
Yesterday was another such: needed
to get some more cement plates for the driveway whilst I had younger son’s
muscles available. Two trips for 20 and I couldn’t help him much except for to
keep the remaining ones from crashing down as we picked ours. We had already
taken 10 home and were back getting the remaining 10 and some other items when
I noticed that the stone in my ring was missing…
A transparent stone that could have
been knocked out of its setting most anywhere there at the garden center, in
the car or at home. Still, nothing tried, nothing gained so I first went back
to where the stones were… bingo … found it and used a pair of pliers from the
store to make sure that the setting was again tight enough to hold it.
Like I said: I’m gifted!
