By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills
After boarding a night flight from Houston to South Carolina, I removed my laptop from its sleeve and went to work, immediately losing track of everything around me except the story unfolding in my mind and on the screen.
The time came for me to stow my laptop. I slipped it into its sleeve and placed it beneath the seat in front of me. I dived into reading a novel on my iPad until the announcement giave the okay to use electronic devices. I reached for it, but it had disappeared. Vanished.
Had I lost my mind?
Three times I unbuckled my seatbelt and searched through my computer bag in the overhead compartment. Three times I confirmed my computer wasn’t there. All I could think about was my husband would kill me. 😊
The plane experienced turbulence, matching my overwhelmed mood. When it ended, I was finally able to chat with the flight attendant and explain my problem. “Don’t worry,” she said. “Once I’m finished with the beverage cart, I’ll use a flashlight to look for your laptop.”
Time ticked by. I looked behind me, hoping to see her bringing my computer sleeve with my device in tow. But she was busy serving others.
I moaned.
A faint light from the beverage cart lit the aisle. Eight rows back on the opposite side of my row, my computer lay anchored beneath a seat. I’d not noticed it sliding away during takeoff. I released my seatbelt and rushed back to retrieve it. Relief, praise God, and my husband won’t kill me burst from my drama-laden mind.
Minutes later, the flight attendant returned to help me, and I told her I’d found my laptop.
“I saw your laptop slide back,” a female passenger said behind me. “I thought you knew.”
Couldn’t the woman see how frantic my attempts to find it? Why hadn’t she spoken sooner? But now I had my device. Case solved!
A giggle escaped me. Then another. Soon, I was laughing, and I’m sure those around me thought I’d lost my mind. Maybe I did! I must have been a real show for those seated around me.
Dear friends, don’t let the busyness of life stop you from observing, studying . . . and laughing.
When was the last time you laughed at yourself?
Comments 34
I looked for hours sometimes trying to find my glasses so I can relax and watch T.V. . Evenutually, I find them resting on the top of my head. Thanks for allowing me to be human with your sharing of the Missing Laptop. We are reading your book, Facing The Enemy, for our May book choice this year. Great Read!
Thank you, Beth. Oh my goodness. I appreciate your book club reading Facing the Enemy. Do you want me to zoom in to your May meeting?
I’m all for more tales of why life throws a curve our way and how we deal with it through laughter or not. During the worst of the Covid ordeal I was having to have my every other week epidermal and would strip off my clothes as soon as I returned home and once forgot my cell phone was in my wheelchair cover and in the washer it went until I heard it tumbling around then removed it put it a of rice to dry it out, I laughed so hard I sprits and then laughed at that when I told my son what happened he grabbed my phone and walked out the door with it came back an hour later and I asked for my phone back but he had bought me a new one. I laughed and asked why he did that my old phone was working just fine and he told me he wasn’t taking any chances that he couldn’t check up on me when ever he wanted to make sure I was ok and I laughed again reminding him I also had a house phone. My son finally found the funny side of it all and finally laughed at himself .He is just always worried about my living alone with my medical problems after I was rsn over by a car. I think that was the day he stopped laughing until my washing my phone brought it back. Kat
Kat, what a funny story! So glad you have a son who is caring. Mine are amazing too. I once placed my cell phone in the dishwasher, but I found it before turning it on! Laugh – it makes life so much more fun.
I find myself laughing at something I’ve done almost daily ma’am. Real humor begins when we can first find it in ourselves. 🙂 Sure glad it was found.
J.D., it was also a sobering truth about my sense o reality!
Oh how great it feels to laugh and smile.
When we can laugh at ourselves, it’s the best medicine in the world.
Glad you got your sliding tool back.
( and escaped the hubby explanation)
Thank you for sharing- it’s great to be human!! By the Grace of God!!!
Joyce, thank you so much for the smile! Then there was the time I lost my cell phone and found it in the dishwasher. 🙂
DiAnn, Really??? Funny! I just saw a Hallmark movie where a lady put her phone in the FREEZER!!!!
Vondia, must have been a cold call!
Laughing is a regular part of our house. I imagine that within 5 minutes of our first cup of coffee one, two, or all of us are laughing. I have several autoimmune/muscle diseases and I laugh right along with my daughter at what I am like trying t move around first thing in the morning!
Sandra, to laugh at ourselves is an art! I think you have it perfected. Thanks so much.
Many years ago, I invited my friend Barbara over for dessert and coffee and the “unveiling” of my new apartment. She came. The chocolate layer cake (no I didn’t bake it–my name is NOT DiAnn!) was ready. Cream and sugar on the table. Something missing. No coffee aroma. I clearly recalled I had prepared it (no, DiAnn, I did not grind the beans!). I finally found the coffee pot—–in the refrigerator! Yes, we laughed!
Peggy, I’m still laughing. Oh, the places we put things. That’s a keeper.
I’m wondering how anyone could see something slide eight rows back and think you knew?!! Yeah, I’ll just leave it there, right? So glad you found it and the giddiness of finding something that important would make me laugh too. But, hey, this may end up in another story!
Barbara, I was just a tad miffed at the woman. Why did she think I was so frantic! Oh, well, a laugh for all of us.
What a story, DiAnn! I’m sure glad it had a happy ending.
Blessings!
Thanks, Martha. Happy endings are the best kind.
Since comedy follows me and my hubby, I laugh at myself (and him) daily. In my latest newsletter, I shared a funny that happened at the writing class I teach. A woman interrupted me and said, “I think I’m in the wrong class. I wanted the Memory Class.” Everyone cracked up. I invited her to stay, but she left. I hoped she found the right class. 🥳🤣🥳
Janette, LOL – The older I get, the more I need a memory class!
Love your story. Just this morning I was unloading a box of groceries from the cart to my car. My daughter pulled beside me (I had no idea she was coming to the store.)
She said I will buy your buggie. (This store u out a quarter inat the time u get your buggy when returning it u get the quarter back.). Any way I told her just keep the quarter and she said no. We stood there and talked for a bit then both of in a rush to get going said see u later. What did I do, I was following her back to the store. She said where are u going , out of habit guess I was going to return my buggy. So I headed back to my car and yes laughing at myself. It does feel good to laugh . Thank u for your story.
Joan, laughing is incredibly good medicine. If we learned to do it properly, we might not need the doctors!
DiAnn Mills,
God put so many gifts inside you. That was a compelling short suspense layered with humor. It reminds me of the times when I’ll ask everyone have they seen my keys and I’ve been holding them. God gives us the opportunity to brighten our day and laugh at ourselves. Even in the midnight hour, He can turn it around. Case solved!
Hi Dawn, yes, a layer of suspense. Then there was the time I put my cell phone in the dishwasher. 🙂
I laugh at myself several times a day. Then I thank God for leading me to whatever it was I was searching for!
Hi Jean, the older we get, the more things we have to laugh about!
Excellent, I laughed too ! I wish you would do more little blurbs like this, I’m taking the coffee on to PWOC, Protestant Women of the Chapel for a devotion.
Marcia
Marcia, that sounds like a good idea! More humor for the day. Thanks, I’ll see what I can do.
when can we expect a new novel from you? Ur post made me laugh something that often does not happen for me. I so enjoy your books looking forward to ur next great read.
Hi Louise, thank you for reading my books! I have a re-release of an older title: Under a Desert Sky. Here’s the info: https://diannmills.com/books/under-a-desert-sky-2/ A new romantic suspense – Lethal Standoff will be released September 3rd by Tyndale.
I laugh every day. Locked the dog out of the house unknowingly and my other dog kept voing to the front door. Creeped me out so got my husband. It was dark out. Be carefully opened the door and in ran Dakota! Good thing we have a gated courtyard. My husband laughed at me too. Sneeky pup
Diana, that is a good one. Made me laugh! Thanks for sharing The Case of the Sneaky Pup.
Goodness, I regularly entertain myself with foibles.
Terri, oh that’s priceless. Maybe I should try a new genre!