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Yesterday morning was one of my pre-planned days off. I decided to just drive for an hour, and then stop someplace to take landscape photos. The choice fell on the Beit Guvrin nature reserve in the South, a place with many different kinds of caves. I know the place pretty well, so I decided in advance which caves I should visit. I started with the columbarium, proceeded to the "musicians' cave", and finished with the huge "bell caves", the jewel in the crown. All went well and uneventful until I noticed that my cell phone was missing. I knew for sure that I had seen it by the columbarium, but after that I wasn't sure. I searched the car, nothing. Went back to all the caves I visited, trying to pick the phone's Bluetooth signal every once in a while with my car's hands-free device (it's detachable) - still nothing.

In total despair I stopped at the gift shop, where I had gotten some postcards in the middle of the route. The nice Russian-speaking ladies at the shop were surprised to see me the second time. I told them about my trouble, and they immediately contacted all the park's personnel to inquire whether anyone had seen the phone. Nobody had. I started contemplating about how much a new phone should cost, when the store keeper offered me to take her own personal phone for the search. "Call your cell every once in a while" she said. I was touched by the trust invested in me, but wasn't very optimistic.

I went for a 3rd round of the park, and climbed up to the columbarium. After 2-3 calls I thought I heard my phone's funny ringtone from afar. Was it in the cave? No, the music sounded further away. And then I found it, lying in the bushes, safe and sound. It must have dropped from my pouch pocket. What a relief! I drove back to the gift shop and thanked the lady. She was beaming with joy. "Throw that stupid gadget away, it's no use!" (she was referring to the hands-free device). I won't, not just yet. Still, I should get me a new phone. Whoever You are, thanks for the friendly reminder.

Originally posted on wildernesscat.vox.com