I don’t know what I was thinking yesterday morning.  The temperature was 7 Celsius when I set off for breakfast.  “I’ll need my toque and mitts,” I reasoned.  So I stuffed them into my coat pockets.

At some point in the day, I got tired of bulky unneeded pockets, so I put the things into my backpack.  I saw no need to remember when that was.

Hours later, after four stops, I returned home and reached inside for my extra clothes.  I pulled out the red toque.  And then the mitts.  They felt light … I guess one mitt will do that to a fellow.

Arghh!  Where’s the other one?

I love my mitts.  They were my partners for many Canadian winters.  I call them friends.

And then there was one:

I searched the pack some more, then the floor, my coat.  Mittless.

One thing I’ve learned: When there’s a problem – act.  Don’t let it fester overnight.

“Okay, Bruce.  Retrace your steps.”  And off I went into the world.  I began with Stop #4 – the Press Shop on the Langemunt.  I’d picked up two books that arrived in the mail.  Paul and I searched.  Nothing.

Stop #3 was Izy Coffee, also on the Langemunt.  I’d sat there for an hour, writing a blog post.  No extra objects on the couch, on the floor, or in lost-and-found.  (The sighs started)

On to Stop #2, my Music Theory class in room A101 at the Poel music school on Poel.  I knocked on the door and was welcomed by a piano teacher and her young students.  No mitt.  Downstairs in the office, Frank rummaged through his pile of clothing odds and ends > same result.

One more chance, appropriately named Stop #1.  I had breakfast at The Cobbler in the Post Hotel on the Graslei.  Surely this was where I did the transfer deed from pocket to pack.  Except it wasn’t.  Everywhere was clean and devoid of finger warming objects.

Did I mention?

Sigh

And then the question that every person on Earth has asked at some point …

Now what?

I knew that I’d be travelling today to Leuven for three days of exploring.  And that the low on Friday will be 4 Celsius.  Plus my hands get cold fast.

“Bite the bullet, Bruce.  Buy new mitts!”

I slumped down to A.S. Adventure on the Zonnestraat.  I knew they had good outdoor clothing.  A lovely young saleswoman was determined to find the right mitts for me.  We wandered from one spot to the next, and then to the next.

Et voilà:

They’re thermal.  They’re water repellent. They’re soft on my skin

And there are two of them!

***

Closure

Bittersweet happiness

Bring on the chill, Leuven