When I Got Lost

I am so often told story of Bruno getting lost, when he left his mom’s side in a crowded mall. The idea of getting lost used to send shivers down my spine. But then destiny had decided for me to experience the feeling of getting lost and then coming home to my loved ones.

    I had gone for an outing with my family. Usually I am with young ones playing with them, but this fateful day I was in custody of the elders. Sometimes I was clutched firmly by hands and sometimes I would swing by the shoulder of the grand old man.

    Going around Washington DC, was such a pleasure. Oh! Such a beautiful place. It was sunny day, with slightly cold breeze. We all were so happy clicking photographs. We went around in leisure to see each and every memorial, garden, Hudson riverside walk and many other places. We were tired but happy. 

    Next day we visited the beautiful, amazing creation of nature “Luray Caverns” in Virgina. I was staring wide eyed, for I had never seen such a beauty of nature. I was urging to be picked up again and again so that i can have best view of different colored hanging of minerals. I was admonished not to jump so much else i would be out of energy very soon, and feel tired. I was told by the old man "You will be made to sit in car when we go treasure hunting in maze garden". 

    For me all of it was a double treat, because I was out of the house, away from windy, uncertain weather of Chicago and was visiting such amazing places. I was enjoying the sun more than any one else. 

     The old lady with us was not so happy with sun and always either drinking water or covering her head and face with hat and scarf. O my God! It is so hot here, I prefer Chicago, she would say again and again. We all would laugh aloud making her furious. Why come out sightseeing if you cannot bear sun and like only cold climate, or shaded places, I would think aloud and make funny faces at her. But she was such an enthusiast, that despite of bright sun, she would not stop playing with me or the big brother of mine whom she had always by her side.

     We were headed for the Smithsonian Air and Space museum Virgina. While car was being taken out of parking lot (which was almost 2 miles away) we decided to enjoy the cold breeze under the canopy of sprawling green tree.

     Oh my God! They just forgot to pick me up and just walked away toward the approaching car. I take a sigh of relief, when the grand old man (God bless him), remembers that all of them have walked away without me. He comes running to pick me up lovingly and admonishes me for leaving his side and running around the tree.

     The drive to Air and space museum was so much fun, great music was being played by the young lady and we all were laughing and cracking jokes. I could see the magnificent building of the museum, but this time I did not leave the side of my caring grandpa. I just hung to his shoulders, unmindful of people laughing at my monkey tricks of swinging from left to right.

     There were space ships, planes oldest to the latest. Oh! I wished I could climb on all of them. The old lady was excited like a small child. I loved when she ran from one place to another with a big smile on her face. I just wondered what was going in her mind. 

Her son was showing both the ladies all the exhibits, telling their history and all technical details to them. I listened for few minutes and then went ahead with the old man, because he was going to space section and I loved it more than anything else.

     When I could not see, he would lift me up to show the exhibits, every time pressing my right shoulder. I felt luckiest person on earth.

     I did not know what lay in store for me when I was taken to the rest room. Sitting on the table near wash basin I heard all funny sounds, and then it happened. I was waiting to be picked up but it was not done. I thought I have been abandoned, otherwise how the can the old man forget that I was on sitting on the table.

     I was shell shocked. I could not utter a word. I was crying silently. I reached for the hand of every visitor in rest room, but nobody bothered to pick me up. I sat there feeling lonely, tired and defeated.

     The clock stuck five. Announcement was being made to vacate the museum but I could not jump off the table. I was alone in empty museum.

     Then I heard some footfalls, somebody came in. I smiled happily thinking; after all I am neither forgotten nor abandoned. More funny sounds from the room started coming. Cleanliness done the man was about to lock the restroom, when by God grace he happened to brush by my stretched hands. He picked me up, cuddled me, took me outside and removed my jacket to cool me. He tried to find out whom I belonged to. But when he failed to so, he put me in a big room full of things I had never seen or heard of.         I was scared and cold, lonely, too lonely. I wanted to scream, I wanted to cry loudly, but not a sound would come out of me. I was dying for that big warm hug I always get.

     Next day I was sent to another big room far away from Virgina. I was not sure of my fate. I was crying silently and praying to Almighty to send me to my family.

     They were checking something in their computers, keeping me firmly by their side. They really cared for me, looked after me lovingly. I was hoping that they are looking for my address, which I being small could not tell them.

     Then a big smile was flashed by the pretty lady, who was clicking away the keys of computer with furious speed. I hoped she was furious at my family members for forgetting me. Careless people she would say.

     They dressed me in soft warm cloths, patted my face again and again and sent me in a car to some destination I did not recognize. I could just hear some mumbling in the other room.

     I was picked up and handed over to some other person. I was wondering now where am I being taken? Oh the hands holding me were so familiar, the broad grin on the face certainly belonged to my brother. Yes O! yes I was getting the biggest, warmest hug. I was now after a long journey, with my family.

     I was taken inside the house and the loud happy shriek the old lady gave was the sweetest sound to my ears. The young lady "Indira" was standing silently, watching the whole drama and smiling.

     Uday picked me up and said to the old man, his father, “Papa take it. Please keep it with you, use it to click photos of the places you visit”.

     Yes! I am Sony camera and this is my story of getting lost. Thanks to Smithsonian for all the efforts to trace my owner. I am back in my cozy place, in the cupboard I belong to. The old man smiles every time he sees me.

A note from the owners:

We had two more cameras, could afford to purchased one more, but the photos in the memory chip of this camera were precious to us. They were memory of our time spent in such educative, thrilling, wonderful places in and around Washington DC, with our children.

We thank Smithsonian, for such a wonderful gesture of returning our camera which we left in Air and Space museum. They did not charge us even for the expenses involved in postages etc. The packet with camera had a sweet note, thanking us for visiting the Air and Space museum. I will cherish this thoughtfulness, honesty and helpful nature of Smithsonian, throughout my life.

Thank you Smithsonian.