[RP TownTalk] mea carpa

[Dwight Holmes]

Though I'd rather forget completely about the entire episode, I feel
compelled to report this here to TownTalk, simply so that those of you who
worried about what a car theft from a driveway on Riverdale Rd might mean
for you and your neighbors may return to "as you were", and put this episode
aside...

Here's my report on what happened with our car last week.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Dwight Holmes <dwightrholmes at gmail.com>

Perhaps all is well that ends well.  But that leaves open the question,
what, where, when is the end?

The car is here. Safe and sound.

It was never stolen.  I found it on Thursday exactly where I'd left it on
Monday.  Yep.

Let me explain a bit -- but keep in mind, I can explain momentary confusion.
I can't explain three day amnesia.

We live literally around the corner from the MARC train station.  My usual
commute involves walking to the station, catching the train to Union
Station, then taking the Metro from there four stops to Farragut North, from
where I walk 3 blocks to work. (Pretty much a perfect commute, but that's a
different topic).

On those days when at least one direction on the MARC isn't convenient, I
drive the mile to College Park Metro and leave the car there, where I can
get either the MARC or Metro. So for example, if I have to wait for the
plumber in the morning and can't get the 9:06 train, I'll drive to College
Park, take Metro in, and then return in the evening in the usual way, by
taking the MARC from Union Station. Except, astute readers may note, it's
not entirely the "usual way." It requires that I remember that the car is at
College Park, so that I don't get off at Riverdale, but continue on to
College Park on the train, where I get the car and drive home.

One day last spring I forgot, and got off at Riverdale. But as soon as I
turned on to the sidewalk at our place I realized what I'd done, presumably
because I noticed there was no car in the driveway.

But last Monday, when I forgot the car was at College Park Metro and walked
home from Riverdale station, I had no such realization. Didn't notice the
empty spot in the driveway -- not when I arrived home, and not when I took
out the garbage around 11.   In fact, not only did I not notice the car
wasn't there, I later (the next day) I had a very distinct visual memory of
the car having been there as I walked around it carrying the garbage! (In
reconstructing things, I figured out that clear image in my mind was from
the previous night)

And then -- it gets better -- or worse, depending -- three days passed and I
continued to not have any inkling of what I had done with the car on Monday.


When I came downstairs Tuesday morning a little after 6 the first thing I
noticed was that the car wasn't in the driveway.  After checking the street
I called our RP police and reported the car stolen.  (Talk about a fast
police response -- they were at the house in about 5 minutes).

You might think -- and I might hope -- that at some point between then and
three days later it might somehow occur to me -- "D'oh!" -- that I had left
the car at the Metro on Monday.  But no.  It was only because on Thursday I
had to drive the rental car to the Metro, as I wanted to come home early to
help Michelle with the Farmers Market.  Entering the parking lot at the
Metro, I had one of those surreal moments as I first noticed the car and
went through the inevitable sequence of thoughts -- hmmm, funny I don't
remember ever seeing another forest green Forester here before ....  and it
really does look a lot like our car... and that's in the area where I
usually park.... Oh. $#^%$^. *Are you kidding me?

*
So that's it.  Thanks to those of you I've been brave enough to tell the
story to who have been supportive and kind - albeit amused to no end.  Most
of you have even claimed it could easily happen to you --I wish I believed
you!  And I should also say I hope it never does.

-- 
Riverdale Park Community Wiki
"Build it -- and stay awhile"
http://rpwiki.wetpaint.com/



-- 
Riverdale Park Community Wiki
"Build it -- and stay awhile"
http://rpwiki.wetpaint.com/
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