I had my ID all day and into the night. Where could it have gone? I was slightly in panic mode at this point. I had spent so much time retracing all my steps, and I was still left without a clue. I didn’t do much of anything today. I lay around most of the day except to stop by the library for a group meeting. I got almost nothing accomplished that I could think of, and I was still in sweatpants and slippers.

I had no idea what to do, so I decided to sleep on it and contemplate further action the next day. As I awoke the next morning, I was beyond frustrated. I was in a bad mood for the majority of the day, and avoided the endless stream of phone calls coming from my mother. I did not want to admit that I was again careless in losing important things, but soon enough I was going to have to tell her.

Grumpy, and unpleasant I sat in my room alone so as not to be bothered with my thirty one other housemates. I had given up. There was no way I was going to find my ID now. Some high school girl probably found it on the street somewhere and now has access to the “of age” world. The coming week was going to be miserable. I had to miss all social functions until I replaced my driver’s license because of my stupidity. I had nothing to look forward to for a while I thought, until I got a phone call.


Normally I wouldn’t have picked up a call from an unknown number, but in my upset state I figured it could only help. The downtown library? Why would they be calling me? The woman on the phone asked me to hold for a moment and I agreed. I stayed on the line and figured I had some sort of over due fee for not returning books on time. When she got back on the line, she actually had good news. It seems my ID had turned up at the IT desk in the basement.

Now I remember, I was more productive than I had thought that Sunday. I needed to check out a pair of headphones and used my driver’s license instead of my student ID. I was in such a hurry to make it back in time for a TV show that I left the headphones in the computer and forgot to pick up my ID. I quickly thanked the woman on the phone and ran over to get my card. This is the first time I am telling this story because it makes me feel pretty dumb. Hopefully I won’t be judged for my absent minded behavior, but I am sure I will give you many more reasons to do so.

After all my errands were done, I went home. I needed to rest up for the long night ahead. I had to have myself energized and ready to go by 6pm. Usually I try not to have much to do on Saturday nights, but I had promised my boyfriend I would not skip out on another date night.

It was nothing out of the ordinary, I wanted to see a movie and he wanted to be at Kegler’s in time for the basketball game on later that evening. We went to the movie theater by the Morgantown Mall, then sped over to Kegler’s for dinner. As I though back on date night, I wondered how I got stuck paying yet again for the movie and dinner.

This tracing of my steps also made me contemplate my dwindling relationship, but I will leave that for another story. I do recall taking my ID out at dinner when the waitress took my drink order, but strangely she did not make this request to my boyfriend. I will just chalk it up to another reason I don’t like that place.

Tired and annoyed of my surrounding, I left Kegler’s to meet up with some friends downtown. This would be the last stop on my busy day, and I was ready to unwind. This time I stopped at an ATM to get cash because opening a tab at a bar is never a god idea.

The line at Lizard was especially long tonight, probably due to the new specials they were offering. I waited in line out in the cold until I reached the front doorman. With my ID in hand, I waited as he secured a wristband on my left wrist. I entered and joined my friends for a night of fun.

My day was far from over. My next stop was Best Buy to pick up some new DVDs. I like keeping a well-stocked collection, and this was a good month for new releases. I went a little overboard, and bought too many but I’m sure they will come in handy on the upcoming cold winter nights. As you may have guessed, this fine establishment also wished to see my photo ID, and I can’t say I blame them. With all the theft and fraud happening lately, there are times I am glad they stop and annoy me with extra security measures.

I gathered my receipts from the busy weekend to make sure I left no location out in my search. I set aside all the debit card purchases, and began to take stock. I scanned the time stamps, and I believe I began my day of running around at Target. I knew exactly what I needed to get, and quickly made my way through the large store to the board game section. I grabbed the Taboo box, and scurried to the express checkout line. Of course, I used my debit card because I feel that cash gets spent a lot faster even though there really is no logic behind this theory of mine. I was pretty surprised when the clerk asked to see my ID. It’s not that I mind, but I am so used to no one bothering to check it that when I am asked to present identification, I get a little thrown off. I showed him the license and went on my way.


What was next on my long list of things to do? I believe I went to the grocery store next to stock up on snacks for the upcoming busy week. One of the perks of living in the sorority house is that our sorority chef prepares meals for us. Unfortunately, he does not always take into account what we like or what may actually be good for us. So rather than starve on “Meatloaf Mondays,” I keep a well-stocked stash under my bed for emergencies.

Last thing to pick up was a bottle of wine for my roommate’s weekly wine night. I am blessed and cursed in looking so young. I know I will revel in it someday, but at my current age of twenty-two it is rather annoying. Half the time, my ID is questioned and turned down even with my multiple back up forms.


When asked for my ID, I whipped it out and stared off as the cashier studied all the information on the little card. Finally I was done checking out. I remember leaving the store a little disappointed because I had to use the traditional checkout lines instead of the ultra fun self-checkout.

So I began retracing my steps. Let’s see… where was I the last time I remember having my ID? Saturday was a pretty busy day. I ran a lot of errands and used my debit card. I thought I was smart and signed the back of my card “SEE PHOTO ID” in an attempt to protect myself against card fraud. Oh lucky me I took out that ID at least a half a dozen times that day, who knew Morgantown cashiers were so thorough in credit card authorization?

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I ran up the three flights of stairs to my room in the sorority house attic and dumped the contents of my purse onto my bed. Not there. I decided I would check all the pockets as they have a tendency of hiding small objects. Yet, still no sign of my ID. Ah ha! I should check the pockets of my jeans that I wore yesterday. At this point, I was beginning to get a little concerned. I had one last option: my jacket pockets.
With my mind racing and the thoughts of having to return home only to wait hours in the dismal DMV line, I admitted defeat.

Where could that little plastic card have gone? This was not the first time I had lost my ID. Last year, an expedition to the haunted hayride left me muddy, wallet-less, and embarrassed at my irresponsibility. These two weeks after the hayride were pretty miserable for me. Without the contents of my wallet I could not go out, I didn’t have access to any money because I had to cancel my ATM card, and I couldn’t even print documents at the library without my student ID. I was not about to let this mishap ruin my already planned social events for this coming week.

Many of you have shared this horrific ordeal: you wake up from a day/night of fun, putter around for a few hours, maybe run some errands, then head home to take inventory of your current situation. I like you went about my weekend as usual, that was until one Sunday night when I was preparing myself for the week ahead. As I usually do, I checked my e-mail, made the necessary parental phone calls, and did some last minute homework before the ever-popular Sunday Night Lineup on TV began.I was feeling lazy so I decided to order myself dinner from Nick's Canteen and relax as I enjoyed my weekly dramas.






Yes this had been a fun weekend, nothing really out of the ordinary, that was until my food had arrived at the front door. I pulled out my wallet to grab some cash when I noticed the only items in this small leather case were a twenty-dollar bill, my student ID, and my ATM card. I paid the delivery boy and went inside. Where was my driver's license? At this point I did not panic. This would not have been the first time I simply dropped it into my purse rather than putting it safely back into my wallet. I was sure it would be in there.