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On our drive back from our stay in South Dakota, I was feeling pretty good about myself. We didn’t get lost and the trip was going according to plan. Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse monument, Wildlife Loop road, Spearfish Canyon scenic byway and Needles Highway were lots of fun.
I admit, after watching an online video of Needles Highway, I had my doubts that I could drive our rental car, a Toyota Camry, through the Needles Eye Tunnel. The tunnel is only 8’4” wide and 10’10” high. But once we got there, it didn’t look as intimidating. We drove through the tunnel without any problems.
We got a room in Cheyenne, Wyoming as we made our way to Boulder, Colorado. After lunch, I told my wife I was going for a walk. “Be careful it’s windy out there,” she said. I put on my new pair of Apple AirPods Pro, so I can listen to my music while I walk.
When I went outside, the wind was indeed blowing hard. I thought it might knock me down. Then large raindrops started to fall. I decided I had enough and ran back inside the hotel’s lobby. I realized my music was no longer playing. I grabbed both of my ears and noticed the AirPod in my right ear was missing. The wind must have blown it out of my ear.
I ran outside to find it, but the wind seemed to be blowing even harder. It blew my hat off my head. I would still be chasing it if the wind hadn’t pinned it against the window of a park car. By now, my AirPod was probably half-way across Wyoming. I gave up.
As I made my way back to the hotel, I was disgusted with myself. I should have known better to wear my brand new AirPods in this storm. I paid $250 for them and lost one of them in just a few weeks. I kept telling myself this would not have happened if I was younger. I can’t do anything right any more.
While I was walking back to the hotel with my head down in shame, I noticed this little white object lying in a bed of rocks in front of the hotel. I bent down to get a closer look. It was my AirPod. The rocks must have kept it from blowing away.
I was lucky this time. But I know it’s just a matter of time before I have another episode with my AirPods, or something else. Instead of blaming it on my age again, I decided next time not to be so hard on myself. We should realize as we grow older, mistakes can happen not just when you’re old, but also when you’re young. They are a part of life.
Today I mentioned in passing military tribunals in the Global War on Terror, but couldn’t remember offhand the location where detainees were held other than “in Cuba”. My 19-year-old daughter immediately came up with “Guantanamo”, even though she was a kid when that was going on. At 64 I worry every time something like that happens that I might have already stripped a couple of mental cogs. But I know that I’ll do what I can (per Peter Attia), and live with what I have to (per Ryan Holiday). On the AirPods–I’ve never owned them, but I’ve watched enough interns my daughter’s age lose AirPods that I won’t attribute that to age.
When we’re young, others blame our mistakes on our youth. When we’re old, we join others in blaming our mistakes on our old age. Why do those in between get to blame their mistakes on misfortune?
I had one AirPod fall in the lake while I was fishing a few weeks ago. You can buy a replacement from Apple that is cheaper than the complete set of two + charger. I need to check into the “keepers” mentioned here. Not to mention the times I have left the AirPods in my pocket and they have gone through the wash…they are pretty tough!
I saw the title of your post and thought, “he’s only had one!” Air pod loss anxiety is a proven mental health issue that needs to be addressed.
Dennis – when exercising or working in the yard, I use a pair of keepers on my AirPods. That way, if one falls out of my ear, the keeper keeps it attached to “me”. I bought a set of three on Amazon for something like $9.
Jeff – thanks for the tip. I need something like that.
Think positive, reject that age thing. If i let myself dwell on being 80, i wouldn’t get out of bed. Believing you are old is a trap to avoid.
Ponder this: Would you have felt as bad if you’d had the AirPods for two years rather than two weeks? It was the recency of the purchase that made the loss hurt more — and age had nothing to do with your “mistake,” which strikes me as little more than bad luck. Maybe I’m especially sympathetic because I can never make those darn things stay in my ears.
Good point. Losing something I recently bought did make the loss hurt more.