I’m a knitter. So, one of the items I considered essential for this year living out of suitcases while my husband learns Polish was my collection of knitting supplies. I carefully packed up all my circulars, DPNs, counters, markers, cable needles, stitch holders, crochet hooks etc., and at the last minute, decided to include them in one of six boxes I mailed to myself in Arlington from Vienna.

Five of those boxes arrived. The one that didn’t contained my knitting supplies. I called the Post Office, and had them run a tracer on it.The box made it all the way to the branch a couple of blocks from my apartment building, then apparently vaporized. Thank you U.S. Postal Service.

After the requisite 30-day waiting period for the package was up, I contacted the knitting supply company that I normally use, and they very kindly agreed to send me copies of all the invoices of everything I had ordered since 2009.

My husband opened this letter while I was out of town and nearly had a heart attack at the total cost of my collection. A brief discussion of the importance of cold-weather hobbies at European posts ensued. He then scanned all the invoices, emailed them to me, and I used them to file a claim with the Post Office.

The Post Office wrote back a few weeks later that the invoices weren’t sufficient. They wanted receipts. So, I went through my bank records online, found all the transactions, and sent credit card statements with the purchases circled on them. It only took a couple of hours.

Meanwhile, I ordered replacement supplies from the same knitting company. After a couple of weeks, I checked on the order and discovered that they had been sent to my DPO address in Vienna. Argh! Winter is coming and I need to knit! So, I contacted the company again, and even though I am sure they are now convinced that I am insane, they very kindly sent a replacement order to my Arlington address at no charge. It arrived a couple of days ago, so three months after packout, I finally had some knitting supplies to play with again.

I think we all know where this is going, right?

This morning we decided it was time to break out the hats and scarves for a walk. Couldn’t find them. Looked everywhere–which didn’t take very long, since this is a tiny apartment! Finally, my husband broke open the one box of Christmas decorations I had included with the air freight shipment.

And there was my knitting bag, with most of my knitting supplies in it.

So, I now have not one, not two, but three sets of pricey interchangeable circular knitting needles. (I am an honest person, so if the set that went to the DPO ever arrives here in Arlington, I’ll return it to the company.)

Still missing is a small box with probably three dozen sets of DPNs, my crochet hooks, and who knows what else. Those being the only supplies I had not yet replaced, of course.

Oh, and the hats and gloves? Best I can figure, that is what was in the box that went missing! Either that, or they ended up in the wrong pile and went to Warsaw. I guess we’ll find out when we get there. Meanwhile, we have some shopping to do ASAP because it’s getting cold here, people, and I don’t knit that fast.

This–this!–is my brain on moving! Which is why I need to stop doing it. Soon!