I’m losing it. I’ve misplaced an unusual amount of items this month. These have included the usual—cell phone, car keys, and reading glasses. One day I couldn’t find all three of my readers. But I’ve also lost unique items such as a brightly wrapped birthday gift.

My daughter bought a pair of earrings for my other daughter when we were on an outing. She hid the gift in the car. I’m pretty sure I brought it inside, but I searched for hours and couldn’t find it. Its location remains a mystery.

Three days ago, I lost a friend’s book. I remember reading it and flagging passages. (I keep a Book Journal where I summarize books I’ve read, and these passages will help me when I include the book’s highlights.) I visualized myself reading the older book with an olive-green cover while on the living room couch and retraced my steps. I searched the area in vain, even removing the couch cushions. I found popcorn kernels and one of my phone chargers, but no book.

I searched on my bookshelves, under furniture, and in drawers. I got down on hands and knees to look under chairs, behind a toy chest, and drapes. Obsessed, I polled friends and the internet for advice. “Ask others to help search,” an author advised, so I enlisted my husband’s help. He kept his eye out for the plain green book, but without success. Days passed.

I wondered if someone or something had distracted me, and I’d set it down in an obscure place. I admit I’ve had a problem being absent-minded from little on. When I was age nine, I brought a chocolate chip cookie outside where I was “carpeting” my fort with chunks of spring-green moss. Hungry, I distractedly took a bite of the moss instead.

I wondered if someone or something had distracted me, and I’d set it down in an obscure place. I remember a friend saying she’d lost her keys and found them in the freezer. I search under my frozen foods.Another friend found a library CD in her sock drawer. I search through my drawers. Another friend found her cold cup of coffee in the linen closet. I check in various closets. Thinking back to how my husband found car keys on his tool bench. I search my office, in the bathroom vanity, under my car seats, and in the broom closet. No book.

Frustrated, I decided to follow my favorite advice for finding a misplaced item. “Relax. Have a glass of wine. It will show up.”

I ordered a replacement, had a glass of wine, and settled in to relax. I opened my nightstand’s door to get out the lotion. As soon as that door creaked open, I knew where I’d find the book. It’s almost identical to my green “Book Journal.” Sure enough, the two books were nested together.

Feeling like celebrating, I reward myself by bringing it and my snuggly puppy dog to my favorite recliner. I settle in. Ack! Where in the world did I put those readers?