I have this strange knack for losing things. But only important things. It is really frustrating.

I have long thought that I struggled keeping up with pens and pencils. So I habitually pick up extras writing instruments in preparation for when I lose mine.

But I have been walking around with six pens and pencils in my pocket all week long. Clearly, losing unimportant things like pens and pencils is no longer a problem.

Same goes for reporter’s notebooks. I keep a bevy of them on hand in anticipation of misplacing them. I never misplace them. Never, that is, until I do an interview and have my notes in them. Then, it takes virtually all of my concentration to remember where I put it.

This condition has become increasingly apparent to me this week as I have spent a good chunk of my time looking for my passport. Can’t find it.

Checked all over my apartment. Not there. Searched my car. No dice. Went to my parents’ house and looked in all of my assorted storage containers. Still, nothing.

I am at a loss. Guess what I did find? Yep. About three dozen pens. Ridiculous.

Now, I cut myself some slack because I have neither used nor needed my passport in nearly 10 years. But still, it’s a passport. It’s not like it is something entirely useless and replaceable like ink pens.

Take my social security card for instance. How many times over the course of your life do you actually need your social security card? And yet, I know exactly where mine is at all times. At least, I think I do.

As frustrating as it is not to be able to find my passport when I actually need it, I am more flustered by the fact that I can’t remember something that simple. I specifically remember putting my passport in a place that I would not forget. Now, I have forgotten it.

My mom would probably tell me that it is a sign of getting older. I’ve heard from some people that a high-sugar diet is bad for the short-term memory. But really, I think it is a classic case of what goes around comes around. I am forever ribbing David Snow for his atrocious day-to-day memory. So I guess this is karma. Frustrating, maddening karma. But at least I should never need another ink pen.

Jeremy D. Smith is the sports editor of the Demopolis Times.