Alas it has been six days since I last listened to my ipod. I had it with me on my last tempo run which went so well and was in large part due to Whitesnake, The Rolling Stones and Lenny Kravitz. Just itching to get out and run again, Saturday was supposed to be my long run of the week. I was all ready for it, but decided I had put off too many errands and would just make some quick stops before I got to the track. Fall is really my time for "spring cleaning" and there was still leftover clothing in my closet that needed to be taken to the D.I.
I placed my ipod and headphones in the left pocket of my jacket and headed out. Went to the D.I and then to the grocery store. I drove to the track only to find out there was a game in the stadium next to the track and they were charging for parking.Grr. Discouraged but not defeated I decided to just make the route up as I went (something I never do as I am addicted to knowing my exact milage and have yet to purchase a Garmin) Getting out of my car and doing my stretches on the sidewalk I reached for my music to Start Me Up .Headphones. Checked again. Nothing. Checked other pocket. Nothing again. Just my headphones were all that was in my left pocket. I retraced the ten steps back to my car. No ipod. irritated but not panicking I drove back to the store and retraced all steps I had taken in the store. Went out to the parking lot scouring the ground for anything black and silver. Nothing. At this point I was positive that it had to have been turned in to customer service. Nope nada. I thought that I must have dropped it in my garage as I got in my car this morning. I returned home and went through my garage and cleaned out my car. I was slightly less irritated at this point that I was missing my workout and just hoping to find my ipod before work. No such luck.
I mulled over where my ipod could be for hours. I was pretty sure it couldn't be at the D.I, because it had been in my pocket and my clothing donation was on the passenger seat. I went in anyway two days later desperately craving my music fix to accompany my exercise high. They said that an ipod had been brought in the day I donated clothes! I was so elated, the salesperson who was helping me asked a few more people and they reported that it had been sold. MAJOR BUMMER! I dejectedly left my name and number in case they could track down who bought it and see if they would return it. I drove to the track before I could talk myself out of it. It was snowing and starting to come down fast, but there was just the light puffy stuff floating around. I contemplated bagging my workout to go indulge in some hazelnut hotchocolate when the ANGEL of a salesperson called me back saying they had contacted the woman who bought the ipod and she would return it in the morning! I was almost speachless and freaking amazed that the saleslady had bothered to call and that the customer was willing to give it back. I ran through the snow Storm happy and giddy about the awesomeness that is humanity!
The next morning I wrote an extremely gushy, happy thank you note for the customer and bought two boxes of cookies to give to my Angel and the wonderful customer returning my ipod. Upon reaching the store I spotted one of the salesmen from the day before, he was so happy I was getting my ipod back and said that the woman had left it about an hour before. I gave him the cookies and he returned with ipod in hand. Oh Heavenly Day, Happinesss. Elation... oh no, oh crap, oh $#%@! I stood there not knowing what to say, feeling so stupid that these poor people had taken so much time out of their day and were so happy for me and now I had to ruin the moment with... "I Apologize but thats not my ipod! AHH! Crazy! What are the odds that they would get a black nano donated on the exact day that I visit the DI and consequently loose mine at some point within about ninety minutes! Crazy just crazy. I left feeling so stupid and now comtemplating Cryin' becuase I just offically lost my ipod. The ipod that I had had for three years. The ipod that had introduced me to Boston when I had loaded my brothers songs on to it before leaving for a semester in China. The ipod that had accompanied me All Summer Long as I trained for my second half marathon this year. The ipod that had Taken me away on training runs and allowed me to Dream during my first half marathon this last April.
I've come to terms with the fact that the ipod is not coming back and I will have to buy a new one, but I know that I can't stop loving you ipod and I hope that your path Collides with a music lover (who may just happen to plug you, sweet ipod, into their computer and realize that it says my name and then find me here!)
However I am pretty sure it is time to say goodbye. So here is my shout out to you dear ipod. You gave me More than a feeling. You gave me Peace of mind when I needed it most. You helped me run faster. You helped me to say I feel Wonderful tonight after I completed runs I initially didn't want to do. But you taught me more than running. You taught me not to quit, constanly taunting oh yeah Give me one reason why you need to blow off this run- I'm ready to go. You taught me what it means for a run to Hurt so good. You never complained or were late to workouts, your only comment was Here I go again. I am sure there were days when I felt like a Beast of Burden to you but you were always there to start me up.
Thank you ipod. Thank you for STANDing BY ME!
Your ever grateful,
American Woman!
( If you happen to live in Logan, Utah and found a black nano ipod on or after the twenty fourth of October, please let me know in the comments, Thank you!)
