The key to my heart?December 27th, 2006 @ 7:08 am
You know how you need keys in your life? I’m not getting all deep here and talking about keys to a better marriage or keys to being a happier person any other crap like that. I’m talking about actual keys. The keys you need to get inside your apartment or to start your car. You need them. Just in basic everyday life, you need these.
So guess what I lost on Sunday?
My keys.
It’s not that I just misplaced them while out shopping or at church. Nope, that wouldn’t be my style. When I mess up, I like to mess up big time!
They flew off the roof of our car while we were on the freeway entrance headed to The King’s parent’s house for Christmas Eve dinner.
(I shudder just typing this out.)
I set my keys on top of the car while strapping my dear sweet Babboo in his car seat. When I put them there I thought to myself, “now Isabel, don’t forget your keys are on the roof of the car. It would be foolish if you forgot them.” I really did think this. And I really did forget them.
The King was driving (and thus, using his own keys to operate the car) and as he accelerated onto the freeway we heard this massive noise on the roof of our car.
The King: What in the crap was that??!!
Isabel: (softly) My keys.
The King: What in the hell were you keys doing on the roof of the car?
Isabel: (even more softly, because I’m extra humiliated) I left them there.
The King: Well, they’re gone now.
I knew that. My stomach was all ready in knots. I was sick. How was I going to get into our secure apartment building without my push button thingy? How was I going to be able to drive our car? How was I going to be able to open our mailbox to get the residual Christmas cards?
I’m going to have the live the rest of my life locked inside our apartment because I can’t go anywhere without any keys! Oh my gosh, my life is over and it’s only just begun.
(breath, breath.)
There’s no turning around on the freeway to look for a set of keys. No matter how much it’s going to cost to replace the fancy Volkswagen keyless entry key thingy or to get new keys cut for the apartment. You do not stop of the freeway. Ever. You also can’t pray for your keys to be returned. Because ain’t nobody gonna find them on the freeway. And if they do, they wouldn’t even know where to begin to find you to return them.
Tuesday morning was spent making phone calls to Volkswagen. A new key will cost (get this) $250.00. Which includes the cost of the scheduled appointment, at which time a mechanic will also have to reprogram The King’s key.
Reprogrammed? It’s not a computer; it’s just a freakin’ key! And $250.00, you’ve got to be kidding me! It’s the day after Christmas. I don’t have an extra $250.00 just sitting around.
It looks like I’ll be unlocking my doors old school with a regular key sans fancy buttons that makes pretty noises.
I contacted our apartment managers next. They didn’t charge me for new keys. Hooray. And I only have to pay $50.00 for a new scanner thingy to get inside our secure building. $50.00 is a lot of money, but its no $250.00, so I was happy about that.
My keys are replaceable. But the little Washington State license plate key ring that I had my keys on isn’t replaceable. It said “The King” on it and was bought the first time I came out to Seattle to meet the man that I would later marry. I’ve had it for almost 7 years.
It’s a good thing I got a new key ring for Christmas. But it’s not the same.
I rock
Carrisa
said,
December 27, 2006 at 5:29 pm
Oh honey I’m so sorry to hear that you lost your keys. That’s just sucky. Plain sucky. And VW should be shot for charging so much to replace the fancy key.
Bright side? At least it was your keys and not the baby you left on the roof of the car… just sayin’
Audrey
said,
December 27, 2006 at 5:30 pm
And if they do, they wouldn’t even know where to begin to find you to return them.
That’s kind of a good thing, though. Because at least you know that if someone does find your keys they won’t know where you live and use your keys to get into your house and steal all your stuff.
Jessie
said,
December 27, 2006 at 8:23 pm
I’m with Audrey. That’s my biggest fear about ever losing my keys - someone using them to break into my house, work, etc. Glad you can get them all replaced.
shellynoir
said,
December 27, 2006 at 9:27 pm
dude, let’s go find them! I can find anything!
SJ
said,
December 28, 2006 at 12:27 am
Oh man, I’m so sorry to hear that you lost your keys. And really, does VW have to charge that much for a replacement? Ouch.
Good thing that the keys can be replaced however, unlike losing your wallet, if anyone stumbles upon them, they have no idea who they belong to.
I feel your pain, it sucks losing stuff that’s special to you.
alyndabear
said,
December 28, 2006 at 12:46 am
Yipes. I hate that there is always a little something that adds to the pressure of the holiday season.
I’m glad you don’t have to mortgage your place for a new set of keys though. That’s always good..
Christar
said,
December 28, 2006 at 1:52 am
Losing your keys is the WORST. Ok, losing your wallet/purse is actually the worst, but the keys are not far behind.
My best friend, Jo Jo and I had gotten best friend key chains when we were in the 4th grade and in about the 6th grade I lost my key that had my key ring on it. In the 6th grade, losing your one house key isn’t a big deal, but I was upset about the fact that I lost the key chain. Now, we are almost 21~years~old and she still has her key chain, and I still feel horrible for losing mine.
angela
said,
December 28, 2006 at 2:09 am
Maybe you can invest in a metal detector and go out to the freeway. I’m sure you wouldn’t look like much of a weirdo.
Chas
said,
December 28, 2006 at 2:31 am
That really does sound like something I would do; I’m shocked it hasn’t happened yet. I hate that you have to shell out so much money to replace them, but I guess it could be worse…it’s better than having your identity stolen
.
meritt
said,
December 28, 2006 at 3:20 am
Does it make me weird that I would, indeed, have taken the next exit… circled back around… and walked the area looking for my keys?
Yep… I would. LOL.
Jezer
said,
December 28, 2006 at 3:56 am
Ah, I’m so sorry. It’s those little things, like your keyring, that mean so much more than the cost of replacing your keys (but $250? Holy Guacamole!), so I’m mournful for you. I hope your week gets better.
MK
said,
December 28, 2006 at 5:10 am
No its not the same! I am so sorry that you lost them. I so completely understand that sick feeling as you know exactly what is happening. That is usually the key for me to start crying- which of course never helps anything at all! hugs!
Lissa
said,
December 28, 2006 at 5:23 am
I once rode an hour and half with my keys and wallet (wallet was attached to the key ring) on the bumper of my friends tahoe. We stopped to get gas and lo and behold the keys were still there! I kid you not. I didn’t even notice I had left them there till my friend saw them sitting on the bumper while she was pumping gas. Crazy.
I’m sorry that it cost so much to get new keys. That sucks.
Frema
said,
December 28, 2006 at 12:51 pm
Two years ago I lost two of my favorite CDs because I placed them on top of my Cavalier–without cases–so I could load up my car before driving to work. When I drove home later that day, I saw them in front of my house, one cracked, the other hopelessly scratched. You are not the only one who does this!
Hilary
said,
December 28, 2006 at 3:09 pm
I want to cry for you. I’m so sorry. But it was a mistake anyone could have made. And one that many people have made over and over again. I left my keys on the top of the car one time (I think I’ve told you this story, not sure) while I was taking Silly Boy out of the car to go shopping inside of Target. I came out of Target and started digging for my keys in my purse realizing that I could not remember actually putting them in the purse to begin with. I just knew my car was gone. But it wasn’t. There was my car, with my keys still sitting on top of it. It still amazes me that no one saw that and stole my keys and my car. I got so very lucky.
Life is hectic, especially with children, and especially this time of year. We all have a thousand different things on our minds and it’s so easy to just forget that the keys are still on top of the car.
I’ve heard those Volkswagen keys are expensive to replace. Again, I’m sorry.
Ali
said,
December 28, 2006 at 4:57 pm
I once left my apartment without my keys….meaning I couldn’t get back in…and I couldn’t start my car….I stood in the hallway looking at my door for about a minute….thank goodness that my cell phone was in my purse and help was soon on the way…
Sorry that you lost the keychain…I would be the most upset about that I think…
Lindsey
said,
December 28, 2006 at 7:12 pm
Isabel, you poor thing! I can’t believe you lost your keys in such a traumatic way. It made me most sad to read about your key chain though, which seemed to be the most valuable.
Bunny
said,
December 29, 2006 at 1:31 am
Oh no, Isabel. What a terrible thing! I am sorry for you. That sucks.
HollowSquirrel
said,
December 29, 2006 at 3:04 pm
Oh suck city. I’m sorry, sweetie!! BAH!
Nap Queen
said,
December 29, 2006 at 6:44 pm
Oh no!!! I’m so sorry, but I completely understand. It totally sounds like something I would do.
hola, isabel » Why do I feel the need to justify things? And also, Happy Valentines Day, yo
said,
February 15, 2007 at 3:36 pm
[…] While it didn’t cost him more than $5.00, it is pretty thoughtful. Especially since I had lost the original one a few months ago. […]