I have always depended on the kindness of strangers. And some stranger out there was very kind.

On Friday, I got on the streetcar, heading downtown to get the bus to Stratford, wearing my backpack with computer, water, and the sandwich I never travel without, towing my wheelie. I took off the backpack and put it beside me while I checked the bus ticket and saw to my horror I had the time wrong – it actually left half an hour before I thought, making this trip tight. If I missed the bus, I’d miss the play Forgiveness that I was anxious to see – had managed to snag the last ticket – plus sick friends I was renting a car to go visit. So when we approached the subway, I jumped up in a panic and flew out of the streetcar down to the subway. And, yes, left the backpack behind.

Didn’t realize until I was on the subway, when my face was so distraught, the women opposite asked what was wrong, and when I told her, looked up TTC lost and found and gave me the number. I made the bus and called TTC, but anything turned in Friday wouldn’t register till Monday. Three long days without my beloved Mac, my faithful companion, on which I spend most of my day. Forgiveness was fabulous, it should have a long life, and Stratford was particularly beautiful this time of year. But I was worried, altho’ kept repeating, it’s only a computer, not health, not life and death. Still.

I did rent a car to visit my friends Lani and Maurice in the country, got completely lost because I haven’t driven in years and didn’t know how to work the GPS, ended up driving through endless miles of cornfields, but got there and had a good visit.

On Monday, the TTC office didn’t have it and my heart sank, but they said it might come in later. Later, to my joy, they said a black backpack with a Mac had been turned in, probably mine, but it had not reached the office yet. I got my young tech helper to show me how to teach tonight’s U of T class on Zoom on my phone in case the computer didn’t get there on time. But at last, they told me the backpack had arrived, I rode like the wind to the Bay station, and there it was. The person who found it took the sandwich and snacks and turned it in. I’m glad they got something out of it. THANK YOU!! A world of worry and expense is behind me thanks to you. And now, forgiveness to myself for being such an idiot.

Of course I had my phone throughout, and learned to do more with it – I don’t use my phone as the kids do, I’m mostly on my laptop. I got more adept on the phone over the weekend, had no choice. But felt so helpless still – I use this machine for so much, including posting here. I did call the Apple store to find out about new  Mac Airs – mine is six years old, about eighty in computer years, so will need to be replaced at some point. But not yet. The most wonderful relief.

And yes, anyone who’s read Midlife Solo knows that in France some years ago I got off a train with suitcase and backpack and left behind my purse, with wallet, passport, phone, and keys to the apartment I was staying in. Much more serious. But still.

As I said, Forgiveness was one of the best productions I’ve ever seen at Stratford. Not easy, we spend time with Japanese-Canadians who spend the war in appalling conditions thanks to Canadian racism, and in a Japanese prisoner of war camp, unspeakable. But as the title says, the play is about forgiveness and hope. Truly beautiful. I also, since I didn’t want to see Robert Lepage’s overdone Macbeth as a bunch of Quebecois bikers, saw A Winter’s Tale. It was solid, but with some bizarre miscasting and embarrassing overacting. But Shakespeare. That man could write.

The weather is sublime. There’s more to say and photos to post, but I will stop now; it’s nap time.

I might hold this silver beauty in my arms while I doze.

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