All That Sparkles (115)

For some reason, I find things.  Usually sparkly things.  They just catch my eye.

Over the years, I’ve found everything from diamond rings and earrings (usually just one, not a pair), pins, necklaces, and every type of US coin and a few foreign coins.  The finding usually happens on my walks but sometimes just when I get out of the car at a gas station or an office or the grocery store.  It’s not limited to metal items.  I’ve also found paper money (including a $100 bill), lots of cell phones, one Ipad, gift cards, and recently, a very nice Nikon camera. 

I am curious how people lose these items.  Earrings I understand because I have lost a few myself.  Coins I understand too as I have dropped a couple from time to time.  But what about cell phones?  Wouldn’t you notice losing your phone?  Or your Ipad?  I would go into terrors if I lost my camera and it isn’t nearly as expensive as the $900 + one I found in a parking lot. 

Usually I try to locate the owners of the items I find unless it is a bill blowing by me on my walk or one I find run over in a parking lot. Of course, if I saw someone running after that wayward bill, I would pick it up and return it to them.  Cell phones and larger items I take to the police station.  Evidently lots of people lose cell phones and the police are pretty good about finding the owners.  They have told me that sometimes people put their phone on their dashboard or the hood or roof of their car, and when they drive, the phone slips off on to the street or sidewalk.

I was able to find the owner of the Nikon by myself. I picked it up and looked at a few of the pictures stored in the camera and they were mostly of a cute baby having a birthday party. This finding was after dark in a parking lot and not too many places were open. The camera was on the ground near several cars and one of the cars had a baby seat in back. I noticed a restaurant nearby that was open and I went to it and looked through the windows. Couldn’t see anyone with a baby so I stepped inside. Sure enough, there was the child with family and I was able to get the camera back to them.

I’d like to be able to tell you how it is that I find things but I don’t know the answer. I just do. It has to do with the way I observe things and notice when something doesn’t quite fit in its surroundings.

And then too, it’s sometimes just the sparkle that catches my eye.