04 April, 2014

Keep Looking!

This dongle that is attached to my laptop is, quite literally, the key to my Bernina software program for machine embroidery. Through this software program I create every bit of the lettering, monograms, and numerous other combinations of designs that I choose to stitch out for personalizing or embellishing quilts, T-shirts and other objects and gifts; without the "key" I cannot access the program, period. I had stitched out a sweet little Easter T-shirt for Lucy Ann on Monday night and planned to do the same for Lynnleigh on Wednesday, that's when I discovered that my dongle had gone missing. I was frantic, mainly because the trash had already been picked up for the week, only hours earlier! I literally tore the house apart; searching, and continued to come up empty. I knew a replacement would be costly but little did I know how much that would be until my friends, those who work at my local Bernina store, urged me enthusiatically: "keep looking!." I thought and thought, there were only two places that I normally had it: either plugged into the laptop or in the desk drawer, it wasn't there. I retraced my steps from the clean-up that ocurred after a recent sewing session; nothing. I felt sick and worried... the reality of the situation was beginning to set-in. The resolution to this loss was going to be expensive, I would likely have to buy the software all over again. "Keep looking" continued to ring in my ears, I made one more trip up to the top shelf , on my step-stool, to look underneath the stabilizer that I had folded and put away the day before. There it was, sitting on top of a box. I have no idea why I hadn't seen it the first, or second, time I stood atop that same step, in the same spot, but that didn't matter at all anymore; I had found it! Relief doesn't even begin to explain what washed over me, I was consumed with gratitude for the encouragement spoken by my friends: "keep looking"; even when I thought for sure all hope was lost, or more specifically, was in a trash truck on its way to the landfill!
I've learned my lesson.
The dongle has been put on a leash, and tethered to the inside of my desk drawer!
Peace of mind is a comforting thing.
Life is Good!

11 comments:

Edith said...

Who tethered it? A certain handyman/husband, perhaps? So glad you found it. I know 2 little boys who may need tractor and firetruck shirts again some time. (:>)

jude's page said...

What a great idea to "tie" it down, and it will always be where you need it. Glad the lost was found. Frustrating to spend all that time looking, which is what I have been doing a lot of lately, and so am trying to get rid of the "stuff" that is no longer necessary.

Anonymous said...

I've worn your panic shoes...it isn't a good feeling! So glad you found it! Who needs that stress?!

Kathy ... aka Nana said...

Been there, done that. So stressful, isn't it? Glad you found it! And I recognize that tether ... I have one just like it in my portable sewing kit. ;-)

NeverBored said...

Your story reminded me of Luke 15:8-10. The woman who loses a coin and cleans and searches until she finds it, then tells her friends and neighbors to rejoice with her, for she has found what she lost. I'm rejoicing with you in your finding what was lost!

Nane said...

It's the worst feeling. I misplaced a critical piece of our adoption file and when I was at my wits end, Mike found it tucked into a quilt book I gmhad been looking at. GlD you found it and have remedied misplacing it again

Janet O. said...

Very smart fix!
Very happy ending!! : )

Quiltdivajulie said...

Oh, I felt that awful feeling in the pit of MY stomach just reading your post . . . SO happy you found it! Great solution, too.

LizA. said...

I'm so glad to see I'm not the only one that does things like this. I give Steve a hard time about not seeing something right in front of his face when he's looking in the refrigerator but I do the same thing too when looking for something that's been "misplaced".

lindsey said...

Oh my goodness, so glad you found it and great idea to tether it!

Gail said...

I do like the idea you came up with for attaching a strap. I panicked not too long ago when I thought I'd lost a flash drive with a lot of info on it. Luckily for me, I did find it. Funny though how you can look in the same spot several times and not see what you are looking for. This has happened to me too.

Gail :)