Wish-fulfillment fantasy
Several years ago prior to a trip to Hong Kong, I got a new umbrella because the old one had gotten misplaced. I chose one in a bright, floral pattern--I'm not sure why. I think the logic went something like this: it would be obvious and hard to lose. But I quickly decided it was the Ugliest Umbrella Ever.Last year, I managed to lose it one day in the High School where I teach. I was actually rather glad, because it would give me an excuse to buy a new one. But the very next week, I recognized it in the office I must have left it in. So home again it went.When I packed to go to TNEO/New England/Worldcon, I knew I'd be doing a lot of walking outdoors and an umbrella was essential. Most of my travel wardrobe is black. I had this hideous hot pink, turquoise, green and yellow monstrosity of an umbrella. I so wanted to just chuck it and buy a nice black one. But I hate to be wasteful and spend money unnecessarily. It was a perfectly good, compact, easy to open and close umbrella. Into the duffel bag it went.I don't think I used it at all. Come to think of it, there might have been one day with rain at TNEO. I was probably too busy to notice. We did have rainy days in Maine and New Hampshire, but we hiked in our rain jackets. I only carry an umbrella when I'm wearing "city clothes."The darn thing sat in my bag for several days during Worldcon because rain was in the forecast. But the couple of times it rained, I was indoors. On the very last day I decided to streamline and carry only my sling purse and leave the Odyssey totebag in the room. "It's supposed to rain today," Stephan said. I grumbled and crammed my ugly umbrella into a side pocket of my bag, where it stuck out, looking ugly.At some point during the day, I had the bag under my chair during a panel. The umbrella fell out. I smooshed it back in. Later that day, I noticed it was gone, and had no idea when I had last seen it.Hooray! I managed to lose the umbrella beyond all chance of recovery without even trying. At least not consciously. If anyone finds the Ugliest Umbrella Ever at Worldcon, please do NOT mail it to me. Thanks. My only regret is that I don't have a picture to prove it was the Ugliest Umbrella Ever.To console myself over the loss of my umbrella (or perhaps to celebrate?), I bought myself a fabulous new bag.
