Week 28: 1964 Shelby Cobra "Daytona" Coupe (Treasure Hunt)

The above diecast car was my first Hot Wheels Treasure Hunt, which I found in the middle of a rack of cars  at a store.

If you don't know about Treasure Hunts, Hot Wheels puts out a limited number of Treasure Hunts each year, models of popular previous releases  in new stylings, and these little cars get scooped up quickly, often before ever even hitting the shelves.

But I found one. Truth in fact: that makes me cool.

Today's blog, then, is dedicated to treasure hunts, the everyday treasure hunts in which we participate, particularly if kids are involved.

To begin our story of intrigue and treasure, let's begin in the basement, my basement, where I was assembling the tools I would need to change the oil in my non-tiny car.

"Can I help?" asked four-year-old Racer A, who had followed me down the stairs.

"Of course, I would love to have your help." I gathered up my ratchet and set of sockets.

"Oh, can I carry them?" 

I remembered another time one of the kids helped me carry my sockets. It's very difficult to read those little numbers on the sides of the sockets as you're trying to put them back in order after they spill all over the floor. One socket will always roll under something. Something always just large enough to accommodate a socket.

"How about you carry the ratchet."

"Okay," he said, beginning to ratchet imaginary broken things all over the place.

We headed upstairs, where I first reminded him to hold the railing as he ratcheted the air, and where I then reminded him to put on his coat. 

Outside, I got down on the ground and asked Racer A for the ratchet.

"Hmmm," he said. "I guess I don't have it."

"Where is it?" I asked. No more worthless string of words have ever existed in talking to a kid than, "Where is it?" except, perhaps, "Did you put the milk back in the refrigerator?"

"I don't know. I wonder where it went?"

He seemed truly baffled. Happy. But baffled.

"Well, let's go look. You just had it a minute ago."

Part Two: The Search

The ratchet was gone. Not near where he put on his coat. Not near the door. Not anywhere logical. Hey Diddle Diddle, the Cat and the Fiddle, My Ratchet for Changing My Oil Ran Off With the Spoon.

Stupid spoon.

"Well, let's look for it later." Luckily I had a second ratchet in my tool box.

I finished with the oil change, and we looked for the ratchet again, but by that time the thrill of the ratchet had largely left my son. At the time of this writing, the ratchet has officially become a Treasure Hunt item, one of a lengthy assemblage of items that have been buried in the house to one day surprise me.

Such items have disappeared to be found in shoes, vents, toy boxes, and inside winter hats. I once found a tape measure in a mixing bowl. 

Why do they do it? We can't know, and we don't have the capacity to understand their little pirate logic. All we can do is ask them, over and over again, where they saw it last.

So here is to our household Treasure Hunt finds (and unfounds) and the little treasure hiders (and loot misplacers) of the world who make them possible. Here is to the car keys in the shower, the can of pinto beans behind the couch, the one missing dress shoe in the teddy bear bin, may they always surprise, delight and astound us.

I know I will be surprised, delighted and astounded when I find that ratchet.

The above car was Hot Wheels Treasure Hunts series #5 out of 12 for 2010

Photo courtesy of Phil Pekarcik.