Stuck at the mall and almost caught

[Christina Nicole]

I had a few hours to go out the other night. I pulled together a nice conservative look, black skirt with a dark red silk blouse and ran to the mall. Once there, I checked my hair and makeup quickly in the sun visor's vanity mirror, dropped my keys into my purse and went inside.

After looking around in a few different shops, I headed back out to the car. When I neared the car, I reached into my purse for my keys and couldn't find them. I started to get a little upset. I needed to get home soon, before my wife. I double checked my purse, no keys. I opened the car door, thank goodness Lincoln still puts the push button combination lock on the driver's door. No keys in the ignition. Went back to the mall, which was about to close and retraced my steps. Looked in the fitting rooms. One of the sales associates who was helping me asked if she could help, so I explained that I lost my keys. She helped me look but we didn't find them. I went to customer service and mall security, but the only keys they had were not mine.

I could have changed clothes in the car and called my wife, but how was I going to explain being at the mall? I never go to the mall without her. Went back to my car and used the buttons to open up the car. Double checked everywhere and still no keys.

Went back to the mall when I saw a security guard come outside. He asked it I found my keys. He was very nice, kept calling me dear. He asked if I checked my pockets and purse. I rechecked my pockets, no keys. I went to one of the counters and started to empty out my purse. There, in one of the inside pockets that was half-way unzipped were my keys. They must have slipped in and since the zipper was half way closed, I didn't see them.

Barely made it home in time to undress and remove my makeup. Next time, I will be more careful of where in my purse I put my keys.

I have to say that everyone at the mall was very nice. I doubt I could have been passing well considering that I was near panic not only because of nearly being caught while out, but also because I had keys for four cars on my key ring, plus house keys, and keys for family member's houses too.

Warm regards,
Christina Nicole

[Daintre]

Wow Christina, I have to say that you handled that so much better than I ever could. I would have reached panic mode very quickly. Seems to me that you handled the situation very well indeed.

[terrigurl]

Except I had to call AAA to open up my car, then call a tow truck to take me to the dealer to get a new key. Luckily I was at the salon where I had the makeup done, so she let me change back into my male attire. It turns out that the key had fallen into the bag where my wig was, and I looked everywhere without success. I finally found it, but not until the next time I had my makeup done and I dressed up to go shopping again. I made up some story about how I must have dropped it at the library, and then told my wife that I got it back from the library some time later when I really did find it in my wig bag.
An expensive lesson. Now I put it into a zipper compartment in whatever purse I am using.

Terri

[Pandora]

This makes me think it's now a good idea to add a taxi service phone number to my cell phone contact list. Glad things worked out for you Christina and nice to hear people at the mall were nice. :hugs:

[tifftg]

I go into total obsessive-compulsive mode when I go out. Do I have the car keys, do I have the room key when out of town. I can only imagine your panic. Love the happy ending.

tiffany

[Kayla Shadows]

I probably would have been freaking a little being put in your situation.Its nice to hear everything worked out in the end

[Kristen Marie]

That happened to me with my house keys at a Sisters of Boston event when I was on the other side of Massachusetts. After an hour search, back to the restaurant, retracing my steps, etc., I found them in the car in the corner where they must have slid.

I am now sooo much more careful.

[Amy Lynn3]

I have an extra set of keys hidden on my car. One never knows when they will be needed. Glad you found your keys and got home OK.

[Caitlin Rose]

Keys jingle, particularly big heavy rings of keys! If you shake a purse you'll hear 'em, even if you don't see 'em right away. This has saved me a few times.

[Angie G]

Well you do keep things lively hun I'm glad you didn't get busted by the wife.:hugs:
Angie

[veronicagirl]

I have one of those magnetic boxes hiding only my vehicle door key attached under my car. Hint: wrap the key in vasoline and then tin foil so it won't rust. Inside the vehicle, put a spare ignition key. Do NOT put it in the glove box or console. Mine is tied to the bottom of my seat with one of those bread wire twisties. Spare door key to the house in my garden shed.

[JoAnnDallas]

This is what I love about my Hybred car. It does not need a Key. As long as the door bob is in my purse or on my person, it will turn on. Also you might consisder a Hide-A-Key. That way you will have an emergency key.

[Kate Simmons]

This happened to me a couple of times. What I finally did was to get a big clip to put my key ring on. I clip it to one of the rings on the purse strap and then have them hanging inside. This way I always know I have them and it's easy to find them to boot.:)

[victoriamwilliams1]

think I held my breath while I read it, whew.

[jessielee]

i think maybe you were passing!
or perhaps paving the way for the rest of us,
for the kind people that helped you treated you as you presented yourself.
and that is wonderful to read!
i'm so happy for you!
jessie

[Amy Hepker]

I am glad everything worked ouit for you. It would be a frightening experiance if your SO does not know you were going out dressed or that you dress at all.

I remember one time when I was a kid, I was given a one dollar bill. I stuffed it in my pocket and not in a billford. We went shopping and I found something I really wanted. I looked in my pocket and nothing, I checked the other pocket, nothing, I kept checking and checking over and over again. I was in tears as I lost it, well, my mom gave me another dollar to make up for the one I lost. I paid for the whatever it was and we went home. Later that night when I was taking off my jeans, there it was all wadded up in the very top part of the pocket. I could not believe I couldn't find it. I told my mom I had found it and was going to give it back to her to replace the one she gave me, and she told me to keep it.

It's hard to believe how you can lose something and still have it.

[Eugenie]

I can easily understand the state of mind you must have been in... Being myself ao the anxious type, when things like these happen to me, I loose my basic common sense and I go around in circles, somewhat like you did there...

It is strange how some of us will react in case of stress... We seem to loose all our logic thinking...

The other thing I wanted to say, is that this type of situation is one of the reasons why I felt it was more comfortable that my wife be aware of my crossdressing: If I was to be stuck someplace, she might not be happy, but she wouldn't be surprised...

Actually I had some health incident that were severe enough that I was sent to an hospital... My wife didn't know where I was... Imagine her anxiety... She called the police and even mentionned that I might have been dressed as a woman... (which wasn't the case) But it shows that even if that had been the cases she wouldn't have abandonned me...

:hugs:
Eugenie

[Sally24]

I have to say that when I drive the mini-van, I leave the keys hidden inside. It also has the keypad entry and is great when you don't want to carry the keys with you. Better luck next time!

[JoAnnDallas]

Back before I told the wife about myself, I accidently locked myself out of the house while I was fully dressed. Wife was gone to her gym session. Panic had set in as I tried to figure out a way to get back in without having to break a window. As I walked past the garage something caught my eye. I turned and looked at the remote garage door opener. I could help but to start laughing out loud as I punch in the numbers and the garage door started opening.
So I clearly know the feeling you felt. LOL

[Christina Nicole]

It's hard to plan for every contingency, but I guess I learned a lesson, try to be methodical. I didn't panic too much, since I didn't want to draw too much attention to myself.

My wife's schedule and that the mall was closing were both working against me, so I didn't work things out carefully. So the other thing would be to watch the time!

Warm regards,
Christina Nicole

[KateSpade83]

My coworkers told me you can buy a small box with a super strong magnet and this will hold a spare key. Just mount it in a wheel well or such. It's sold in auto stores.

[Adrienne Heels]

Some handbags have a clip inside for your keys. Or you can get a femme keychain with a cilp on it and clip it to your handle.

[karina68]

And to think i always called my wifes purse a blackhole for a reason haha. Luckily it worked out great for you. Like they say timing is everything

[Sally2005]

Spare key on the car and combination locks on the house...it is pretty unsettling to be locked out when you are not out. :-)