... I just had it in my hand...

I was just so sure that I had a couple of paint roller frames...
I had purchased everything I needed weeks ago,
at my local Benjy Moore paint store...
they were on the list, so of course, I had them...

but then why weren't they where I had put them ?
I had sorted all the supplies and the roller covers,
little roller covers and frames were there...
so... where were the regular sized frames
that I knew I had bought ?

we couldn't find the TSP either, although I assured Miz Minka
that I just had it a few days ago...
I described the jug size and shape, the color of the liquid contents...
even when I had moved it in from the office for just this moment...
and it was nowhere....

we moved boxes, drop clothes, cats...
still no TSP...
then Miz Minka, wise woman that she is, suggested,
"why don't you go get another small bottle ?"
"we're sure to find it then..."

It sounded good to me,
so off I went to the Benjy Moore store,
[about 1 mile from my house...]
found the smallest container I could get, bought it
and returned, triumphantly showing Miz Minka
that at least I had been right about what color it was...

as she cleaned the wall to be painted, I busied myself
with moving my massive art collection out of the way...
in my absence, she had finished painting the ceiling,
after cutting in around the edges and trim...
using the small roller and a brush...
because we still hadn't found the regular roller frames...

after moving enough of the framed art to allow for working room
for Miz Artiste [she has beaucoup skills, believe me...]
I sat down briefly to be out of the way...
as we chatted, I was looking at the spot from where the art had been moved,
and what did I spy ? the fugitive TSP jug I had, so fruitlessly sought...
of course, we were done with it for today,
but there would be other days,
but by then I will have misplaced both containers...

as I pointed it out to Miz Minka,
confirming her theory of "lost becoming found if you buy more",
I was torn between wanting to feel good
that I really had put it somewhere in the room,
and feeling senile, because I hadn't been able
to remember where I had put it....

which brings us back to those roller frames...
I was so sure that they had to be there, that I was
accusing J of having "put" them somewhere,
and not telling me where, before he left...

so in the meantime, Miz Artiste is still making do
with a brush and a small roller,
and successfully painting the ceiling...
and the red accent wall...
but then, the "artiste" that she is,
could have probably done a beautiful job
with finger paints or cotton swabs...

so the next day, I'm out and about
and stop by the Benjy Moore store...
at this point in feeding the "money pit",
what's another couple of roller frames anyway ?
[maybe Miz Minka's theory will work on roller frames too...]

so as I look for them in the store, I have a flashback...
remembering being there the first time...
buying long nap roller covers, little roller frames and extra covers...
and then, it hits me...

Suddenly, I know that I never bought the regular roller frames...
I must have been distracted by the little rollers there on the wall,
they weren't on the list ! ...but I needed them...
so I went and got them...
and I never bought the regular roller frames at all...

when Miz Minka hears about this, she'll be nice...
she won't laugh ... not much... HA !
she'll LOL...perhaps ROTFWL... or maybe even TRDMF...
and that's OK...

I've never enjoyed being the one who is being laughed at...
that always really hurts or makes me mad...
but she will be laughing with me, all the while,
we'll shake our heads,in amazement and blame it on middle age...
and besides, at least I know now that I didn't lose them...
I never bought them...that's a victory, I feel better...
anyway, that's my story, and I'm sticking to it...

At least that makes me feel a little more positive
about my diminishing mental acuity ...
I just wish my powers of concentration were better...

now, what was I going to say next...
Darn !...it was on the tip of my tongue...
Oh, look ! a kitty !