lost May 22, 2007
Posted by mwj as identity, poetry, self. trackback.Yesterday I lost my wallet at a bottle depot. After canceling my money cards, I began the task of ensuring that somebody else doesn’t pretend to be Matthew W. Jenkins. This involves calling credit bureaus, contacting vital statistics, and trying to get a new driver’s license.
The experience has been particularly traumatic because I am getting married in less than 25 days and we leave for Europe right after the wedding.
Packing for an extended journey means cramming enough stuff into the smallest amount of space possible so that when you arrive at your destination and unpack you have some reminder of home. Problem is, I lost my permanent address trying to get the deposit back on some beer cans.
The good news is that my identity has become so streamlined I only need a passport and a couple of carry-ons to pretend that I’m me. This observation brings with it a certain manic exhiliration, but I wonder what happens when we touch down on the other side.
Maybe it’s what She said:
Settling is often
well
Unsettling.
I lose my name.
You feel the pressure
In the pit of your stomach.
Our ears pop.
Gravity gains
We bounce
Things jiggle
We’re propelled forward
And halt.
Comments»
Sorry about your loss. That’s sad.
[…] I never did find my identity (see previous post), but I did get a new set of papers to convince myself I’m me. Among them: a BC driver’s license, an international student card and a marriage certificate. […]