This evening, I headed into town to get a few things at Lowes.

I decided to stop at Pizza Hut for dinner first. The menu here is quite different than the one in Canada as it is much less extensive. But, like in Canada, my usual order cost less than what the menu claimed it should in addition to the cost being less than up north. $9 (including the tip) for a giant mountain of salad and a pizza. Really, why do I bother cooking in the States?

The folks at the Suffolk Lowes are so helpful! I wound up in the hardware section before I was accosted by a sales clerk.

“Where’s caulking?”
“Sorry, clear across the store in painting.”
“And wood glue?”
“Same aisle.”
“Door catches?”
“That I can help you with!” He wasn’t satisfied to just tell me that it was in ‘that aisle’ but made sure I had the exact kind I wanted and in the right colour.

The parking lot of the store was nearly empty when I came out and something seemed odd. Waitaminute. Where’s my truck?! I wandered around for a bit feeling completely bewildered and desperately trying to remember landmarks I had seen on the way into the store. But the lot was practically empty. I could easily scan it My truck wasn’t there!

There was no way someone stole my truck while I was in the store; right? And there wouldn’t have been any reason or time to tow it; right? And then I remembered the hot dog stand. I had passed it on the way in. I found it and then realised that the Lowes parking lot is divided into two with a road between the parts. I was thinking so hard about my shopping list as I walked into the store that I hadn’t even noticed I wasn’t parked in the main lot.

So, yes. My truck was fine and waiting for me right where I left her. I realised then just how deeply I miss having electric doors with a key fob that has a car finder button. I never knew how much I relied on it until I lost it.

From now on, I will try to heed the words of the immortal Captain Kirk as I leave my car in the hopes that this will serve a mnemonic device:

Everybody remember where we parked.