At first, it's just that sense that something is off. You wear your daytime glasses outside for some reason, and it's really bright. In the car, you get out your backup pair of sunglasses, because apparently you forgot to bring your old standbys.

After a day or two like this, you remember to take a look around when you're home. You look in the usual spot where you keep them.

The sunglasses are not there.

But all is not lost - you go to your second line of defense. Did they fall behind the shelf where you keep them? Are they in a purse? On a side table because you wore them in the house when you were getting a headache?

After a good twenty minute search, panic sets in. Where are your (prescription!) sunglasses!?

It was hard to explain to Axel just how unsettling this felt. Although I do lose things frequently, my sunglasses are something I've got a pretty good system for. I know where I store them in the house. They are a useful item. Once I stopped wearing contacts, I went for prescription sunglasses, and while it's not convenient switching from inside to outside glasses, it's great to have your eyes protected from the sun and be able to see.

Also, I just really like them.

After a few more searches, I began retracing my steps while simultaneously looking into possible alternatives.

Retracing My Steps:

Possible alternatives:

I looked on Warby Parker to see if they have my same sunglasses. Alas, they do, but not in the pink color.

Additionally, you need a prescription within the last two years to be able to order, and I don't have a current one. I do have an appointment on the books, so at least I know within the next month I should be able to order a replacement that I like less.

Someone I talked to about the disappearing sunnies told me that they regularly lost items like keys and glasses. "The guy at the gym that I had looking all over for them said that they're not usually in a public place. They're between the front seats of the car." I scoured the car; so did Axel. Still nothing.

About a week after the glasses had been last seen, I was sitting in a professional development session for work wearing an oversized red flannel dress/shirt (shacket?) that my mom gave me for Christmas. I had worn it the week before, because my mom has good taste and it's my most-complimented winter outfit, plus it's comfy (similar to the sunnies - functional and fashionable).

I had checked the pockets on this thing multiple times, of course, to no avail.

And then as I was sitting in this meeting, learning about techniques for teaching students to write an opinion piece, I shifted, and felt something, not in the pockets next to my hips, but in the pockets on my chest. It was something - plastic.

The people next to me in the training joined in my celebration as I explained how I'd been searching for this pair of pink shades.

When I got home, it was apparent that Axel hadn't seen the selfie I'd texted him of me wearing the glasses. Instead, I put my sunglasses on - in the kitchen - and waited for him to notice.

A minute or two later, after he continued telling me about how he hung a new hook in the closet for the broom, I got closer to him and pointed at my eyewear.

"Oh!" he exclaimed. "You found them!"

The restaurant owner at our favorite local restaurant seemed equally unphased when I said, "Hey, remember the sunglasses I was asking about?" and pulled them off my face.

But I am not deterred. I am keeping those sunnies close to my heart, right where they were found.

Actually, even better, I'm keeping them in a glasses case in a drawer where I'll know just where to find them.