Phoney

My sister made a bris in Lakewood this morning. I had to be up by 5:45 to make it there on time.

I have a ton of leftover kitchen gadgets from my testing column, and I backed up a box to give them all away to family and friends at the bris.

I parked a little distance away, double checked the address on my phone, then got the box and carried it to the shul. The box was HEAVY, and shul not as close as I'd like it to be. I survived. I plopped it in a corner, hung up my coat, and then reached to take my phone out.

It wasnt there. I checked the other pocket. Not there either.

I checked the box. Not there either. So odd. I definely had my phone when I left the car. Did I drop on the way? Did I leave it in the trunk?

My sister wasn't there yet with the baby, so I had time to retrace my steps. I did. No go.

All this time, I'm having thoughts like "this makes no sense." "Phones are expensive." "I'd need to get a new license too"

But they weren't urgent, they were just facts. My body was totally calm.

I went back to the bris, and figured I'd take care of it after the actual bris. I was here for my sister. I need to listen, to daven for her and kid, experience the beautiful moment, my phone could wait.

I did take a second to pray for my phones finding "Hashem, just let me find it."

When the bris was over I turned to my sister in law and asked her to call me phone - she had offered to do that earlier. Even though I was pretty sure my phone was on silent.

Just as I asked her, I had turned around to face her, and my eyes glanced over the set table near me. And there it was. Or at least it looked like it was mine. Mint green, a license face down on the back.

"Nevermind. I found it."

I have no idea how it got there. I'm not asking questions. I was meant to have a little scare, but I wasn't supposed to have the actual thing come to pass.

I thanked Hashem, and moved on with the rest of the day.