What a crazy morning it turned out to be. I woke up way earlier than usual; it was my day to take my grandsons to school. I had a package of baby belongings to drop off with my other daughter; so the plan was to meet at the Hotel parking lot near the school.
We met and it was decided we’d both go to the pharmacy; the boys would stay in the car while I kept vigil; and my daughter went inside to purchase medicine for them. Afterwards, we parted ways to return to our homes.
At the light—my brain kicked into over drive, when I realized I didn’t have my phone. I knew where I’d put it. She was right ahead of me with only a couple of cars between us. I sped up and tried to catch her. Once she turned onto the Farm-to-Market hi-way, I realized she was going too fast. I had lost sight of her, as she rounded the corner.
Rather than go after my daughter, I returned to the last place I’d seen her. I searched the parking lot. She wasn’t there. I drove slowly through town, looking as drove. I finally, just went to my daughter’s house.
The look of surprise on THAT Girl’s face was almost comical.
“Hey, Mom! What’s up?!” We had just seen each other, and the last thing she knew was; I was on my way home.
Frantically, I asked her, “Do you have my phone?!”
I could see the look of surprise, on her face, shift to puzzlement, almost like a child having been promised ice cream, being told “it ALL melted.”
Immediately, she knew; that what she had heard and seen coming off the top of her car was in fact, my phone. She knew what had to be done; recalling where she’d last been seen; while I stayed at the house once again with the boys; my daughter drove off, to find it.
There was no use. She was lost. After searching a good while and listening to my daughter apologize for something that was clearly NOT her fault. I decided to return home without her.
The whole while I was driving, I kept thinking of my shattered phone. Not only was my phone probably lying in a bar-ditch shattered to bits; but my security had possibly been shattered as well! What if… it weren’t broken and someone found it. There information on my phone that was private and personal? I felt vulnerable. Could someone crack the pass code and get this vital information? I was angry at myself for being so careless with such an important part of my life. I couldn’t protect her anymore; all I could think of, was how can I protect myself now? I’d have to call and have the phone deactivated.
The tension was high when I returned home-- the same feeling you get upon entering a funeral home, silence and awkwardness. There were no words. I finally made my way into my son’s room, and asked him, “Can we G.P.S. my phone?” It was like giving my son permission to have fun with TECHNOLOGY! His eyes, literally glazed over. After a few minutes he came to me with his dad’s iPhone. I gave him some encrypted data; and in just a few minutes… He handed me the phone. There on the screen, was a dot, flashing—like a beating heart. The text at the top said “EVE”.
There she was—waiting for me to come and rescue her. My daughter came and joined the search party. We all walked along the hi-way’s edge searching and searching, ever hopeful. One old cowboy, pulled along side us in his big red pick-up truck, seeking answers. “Were we alright?” “Are you looking for something?” I assured him, we were ok, and there was no immediate cause for alarm, and I thanked him for stopping. We went on searching.
The GPS was refreshed. We’re within 300 feet!
I WAS giddy with excitement.
We continued to search; and we called, texted, and listened for a response.
REFRESH. Ten Feet.
Call. Text. Listen.
Finally, we heard her call out, like a train whistle in the distance, on a chilled, foggy morning. We stopped and strained to listen, one more time.
EVE was found, under a thorny bush, beside a long, winding hi-way; naked and broken, never forgotten. Still through it all her face barely had a scratch on her.
There not too far from her lay a snake, nestled in among the tall dry grass. Waiting and Watching my Apple, EVE.
You just can’t make stories like this one up, y’all!
‘Til Next time, be blessed and keep your iPhone in safe place (i.e.: not on top of your daughter’s car!)
He has told you O man, what is good and what does the LORD require of you, but to do justice, love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. ~ Micah 6: 8
