Getting Back to Work

After being away for more than two weeks, it was a struggle getting back to work. Literally.

It all started well enough. I was actually surprised that I got off the train at the right station and remembered where the building was once I reached the street. Since I missed the bus it was the first workday of the new year, I decided to walk to work.

After the first block, I could feel my legs and feet warming up and settling into their old familiar rhythm. I cruised by buildings and people, taking in the sights, sounds and smells of the city. Most of downtown looked as it did near the end of September: undecorated, bland and dirty. Holiday decorations in most of the shops and cafes were already gone. It was sad to see everything revert to "normal".

When I was about two blocks from the office, I passed a few of my officemates walking to work. Now, I know it isn't a race, especially when everybody is going to work (leaving is a different story), but some days I can't help but get a little rush when I speed by them. Sadly, yesterday was one of those days. When I reached the main doors, I was already taking a victory lap around the imaginary track in my head, a premature victory lap as I was about to find out.

I caught the elevator up to my floor, walked briskly to the door and reached into my backpack for my security badge to open it. My overactive imagination was already picturing how I would be sitting in my cube, feet on my desk, computer on, jacket hung up and steaming cup of coffee in my hand just as my coworkers were entering the office. That's when I discovered I didn't have my badge.

I searched frantically through my backpack - twice - and came up empty both times. While on vacation, I had removed everything to take my pack on the trip with me. Earlier yesterday morning, I had returned everything to the pack, everything except my badge, apparently.

Without it, I couldn't get into the office. The receptionist wouldn't be in for at least thirty minutes and surveying the office through the glass door, I couldn't see a single soul to wave down. I knocked anyway, but nobody answered. I finally gave up and sat in the lobby, feeling dumb and anticipating the humiliation to come when the overtaken officemates showed up and saw me locked out of the office.

Five minutes later, I was still sitting there. My officemates hadn't arrived. I knew they were behind, but not that behind. I concluded they had entered through the back way. Now a little desperate, I banged on the door again, hoping one of them would hear, but still nobody answered.

That's when I remembered the receptionist's telephone. I scanned the office directory for one of the other office early birds and dialed their extension. Their phone rang four times and I was about to hang up when they suddenly answered. In my most matter-of-fact voice, I explained my predicament. A few seconds later, they opened the door and greeted me with a minimal amount of teasing.

With the exception of a small errand and sandwich run at lunch, I spent the rest of the day in the office. As soon as I got home, I tracked down my badge and made sure it was in my backpack. I've never had such a struggle getting back to work. The next time I take my pack on a trip, even if I'm traveling to Antarctica, I'm keeping my badge with me.