My dumb (phone) life

I got lost on my way to the Twin Cities marathon. I printed out a map and then forgot it at home. I tried to use my GPS but it couldn't re-route around the road construction. I ended up returning the GPS and now I am busy memorizing roads.

I made an extra trip home to message Tina on my laptop when I wanted to let her know I couldn't make it to the group writing session, because I had forgotten to add her number to my new phone.

I could not take a picture of the mascots at the race and the adorable kids desperately waving hi to them. I could not take a picture of the sunrise on my long run.*

Late in the day, I drove to the grocery store to see if it was still open (it was closed).

I printed out a QR code to make a return.

During the week, my wait at the doctor's office seemed longer than usual. I watched other patients looking at their phone and stared blankly around the lobby.

I watched a grasshopper land on my window just before I pulled out of the Walgreens parking lot. I wasn't sure he could stay. The drive would not be too fast but the wind seemed strong for him. But he tucked in behind the rearview mirror on the driver's side. How do I know if it's a man? Maybe it's a female grasshopper. Maybe grasshoppers have that special material on their feet that lizards have that lets them run up walls. That is such a cool thing. What was that called?** Can't look it up. Okay, wonder if this possibly female grasshopper will survive forty miles per hour, forty-five. Wow, the grasshopper held on the whole trip. Welcome to your new homeland little fellow.

I heard the rustling of leaves on my run, bits of conversations as I passed walkers by, and the water lapping up on the shore as the wind gently pushed it.

*Please do not worry, I ordered a camera. I can mail you a photo someday soon. But it will probably not be a photo from a run unless I start a combined photography/running group like the one from the movie Yes Man.

**I looked this up for you later. Van der Waals forces and setae explain why geckos can walk up walls without being sticky. Chemistry is apparently teaching me some things.