This is the contraption that I wear over my right thumb.  Without it, the arthritis there means that I can only hold the cello bow for a few minutes.

Yesterday I went to the gym … stretching first.  One particular stretch requires me to take off the splint.  Otherwise the metal presses in.  Too much pain.

I reached to remove my “jewelry” … and it wasn’t there! 

I stared

“Damn!  Where?”  Having no splint would mean a few things: Much reduced cello playing until I could get it replaced.  And everything seems to happen slowly in Belgium.  How many weeks will I wait?  Plus it would cost me about 275 euros ($400 CAD).

(Sigh)

“Where did I go today?”

1.  Breakfast at Pain Quotidien.  I headed there.  A pleasant male employee searched the Lost and Found.  Nothing.  I searched all around my table.  Nothing.

2.  Music Theory class at Poel, my music school.  The receptionist volunteered to leave his post and go across the small campus with me to my classroom.  We burst in on a bagpipe class!  So cool.  Searching … everywhere … no splint.

3.  Izy Coffee, writing yesterday’s blog post.  My favourite black couch.  The floor.  Niet.

Then a thought: Maybe I forgot the splint at home.  I leave it on a favourite white couch.  Homeward …

Shuffling through papers on the couch.  Removing cushions.  Staring at the floor.  Same result.

***

Many hours later, it was time for sleep.  I drifted off with visions of “275” in my head.  Oh well … I shall survive.

Now today.  Feeling my naked thumbness.  I knew that Pain Quotidien opens at 8:00.  Why not a second (and final) try?  Maybe one of yesterday’s employees would be there again and would remember something.

Talking to a fellow at the counter.  Actually he had heard my story from another staff member.  I asked him to check Lost and Found again.  He was thorough.  No splint.  (More sighing)

I wandered over to the table.  Peered under the radiator beside.  I started lowering myself to crawl around.  And then I heard …

Sir.  Is this it?

And dangling from his fingers was you-know-what.  Nobody stole my shiny device yesterday.  An employee had simply put it on the wrong shelf, partially hidden behind some take-out bags.

***

Yes … my saviour was indeed thorough

Thank you, kind sir

The cello continues

And I get to retire thoughts of 275