Mystery Bonanza

This is one of the most mind-boggling things that has ever happened to me.   I’m still speechless!

The story: I’m visiting Pat and my CASA kid for a few days before heading north to Eugene, Oregon then Portland, Oregon, then onto sailing in Washington and Canada.   I arrived yesterday, P.M.   I spent my morning on a frenzy of “I-live-in-my-car-now” list of to-dos that are more easily accomplished in a home with internet.

Around lunch, Wonderful Neighbor Meg from upstairs comes a-calling with myriad business items, including a package that was delivered  accidentally to their door.   It is addressed  to me, as big as a bag of potting soil, and relatively light.   We pontificate about what it might contain while I find a tape-slicing device.   As I saw away at the seams, it dawns on Meg that perhaps it was meant  to be  delivered to her as a way of keeping it secret from the recipient until the appropriate  time.   She tackles the box just as I pull open the final  seam and see an Arcteryx logo.

• Educational Tangent:
  What is an Arcteryx?   That doesn’t matter.   What does matter is that Arcteryx  is the brand-name for the maker of the new Altra  backpack.   This is the Ferrari of backpacks.   Perfect design features, unbelieveable  ergonomics, extreme durability… clearly anyone who likes to carry survival items into the woods for extended periods of enjoyment would salivate  at the mere thought of this backpack.   Clearly, a woman who is not above sustaining herself for multiple days soley  on bananas and peanut butter (that’s me) would never in her life deign to spend the kind of money it takes to buy a Ferrari.   Or an Arcteryx.   Unfathomable.

So, Meg demands that I wait, or at least call Pat who may know about a surprise backpack before I explore the package further.   I concede, but Pat knows nothing.   I open the box all the way and find that yes, it really is an Arcteryx  Altra 62 backpack in black with my name on the shipping label from a business called “Hermits Hut” in Redding, California three hours east of Arcata.   The hunt is on as I unzip every pocket and compartment searching for an explanation.   Nothing!

Me: Hi.   My name is Jema.   Can you tell me who the buyer was for receipt #10014?

Him: You were.

Me: No, I wasn’t.

Him: It was purchased with a money order that came in the mail.   According to our records, you are the buyer.

Me: This is impossible.   This is the most amazing backpack on the planet.

Him: I know.   I sell them everyday to people around the world.   It’s the best.

Me: But, I don’t even know exactly how to get a money order.   Who did this?

Him: I don’t know, but I want to know, too, so they can be my friend!

Me:   Unbelieveable!   Okay, well, gee.   Thanks.   Arcteryx  Altra.   Wow.   That’s amazing.   Okay.   Well, thanks.   For helping.   Kind of.   Umm, have a great day!

The Usual Suspects: Umm… no one.   My parents?   Pat’s parents?   I can think of no one who:

a) knows that I agree that an Arcteryx  Altra is the most incredible piece of outdoor equipment on the planet

b) knows my “incredibly-difficult-cannot-be-divined-from-standard-city-planning-knowledge” address

c) *the clincher* – has enough disposable cash for the Ferrari of backpacks

Multiple phone calls later to people who might have answers, I am still dazed and confused.   And awestruck.   And beginning to dare to entertain thoughts of outdoor adventures, hopefully with nephews in tow, while I volunteer to carry a hundred pounds of group gear in my ergonmically  incredible Arcteryx  Altra.

I haven’t given up the search yet.   I would like to know, so I can express my awestruck grateful sentiments, who are you?!