There’s a meme going around on Facebook and Twitter. It says: “Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one.” (Apparently, the quote is by Brad Paisley and was written in 2013)

I’m not sure that every day is going to provide a great story. That was definitely the case today, or it was until this afternoon.

The fact is today started out as mundane. I top-dressed the lawn, went to the gym, had a beer and some lunch and then drove to the shop with Rita.

As we’re running a fund-raising sausage sizzle for Victoria Park Soccer Club on Saturday we bought 10 boxes of bottled water. The trolley and our hands were full to overflowing so I put my mobile phone and keys in the top compartment of the trolley.

After arriving at the car we loaded the water into the boot and then drove home at a leisurely pace. And the moment I opened the car door to get out I realised I’d left my mobile in the shopping trolley.

Shiiiiiiiiiiiittttttt!

I panicked, realising that I needed to get back to the carpark. And fast!

I started the car and reversed down the drive like a maniac. The engine roared as I raced back to the shopping centre breaking all sorts of speed limits and road rules along the way. Then we got stuck behind a family out for a leisurely New Year’s Day drive. They were going la-la-la-la, I was going fa-fa-fa-fark!

After what seemed like an eternity we screeched into the carpark, getting almost airborne over the speed humps. Finally we were at the shopping trolley bay. As Rita got out I scanned the trolleys.

Nothing!

Then Rita lifted a small red flap on one of the trolleys, and there it was. My phone with all of my credit cards and money still intact.

I haven’t felt relief like that in ages.

I wish I could say that I maintained a detachment to physical possessions. I didn’t. I wish that I could say that I could do without my phone. I can’t. For me, it contains so much that’s important to how I run my life. Add to that I keep it in a phone cover that includes my main credit cards, office swipe card and driver’s licence. Lose my phone and I’ve effectively lost my wallet.

So I’ll take this little scare as a reminder to be more careful. Inattention, in all of its forms, can be costly.