I left my phone on the light rail...and this is what happened!

Photo by Fabrizio Verrecchia on Unsplash

It finally happened. I have been taking the light rail to work for the last few months and its been life changing. No traffic, no silly drivers, I get lots of reading done, and have been very productive with work. Then one day it just happened. My phone was on the seat under my leg a bit and when it was my stop, I got up and walked off. While the light rail doors closed, I paused to get my phone out and then realized I had left it...when I turned around to face the light rail it was off to the next stop.

I stayed calm, realizing there was not much I could do in that current moment. I walked down the street to the office and when arriving immediately went to my colleague in Operations (the guy who everyone goes to when they have something to fix or figure out.)

I walked right up to him, "I left my phone on the light rail and I don't know what to do." (BTW, before I even finished this statement, Anthony had the VTA light rail website pulled up and was already dialing their customer service number.)

And this began our 2 hour journey to find my phone...

What happened next I will never forget.

We are now on hold with customer service. I then go to another colleague and use her phone to call my phone in the hopes that someone will answer my phone. No answer. It rang and went to my voicemail but no answer. I continued to call it but no luck. Anthony got VTA customer service on the line. I explain to them all details of what happened and they assure me that they will contact the light rail driver to try to locate the device. I give them my contact info and they said they would call me back either way.

Another colleague steps in (a technical guy) and tells me to log into Find my iPhone. I do this and now we can see my phone making its way through San Jose on the light rail, riding along beating the Silicon Valley commute.

I continue to call my phone from my colleague's phone...and low and behold someone finally answers! The conversation went like this: 

"Hello, I left my phone on the light rail. I am a good person, a mom of a 3 year old. Please meet up with me so I can pick up my phone. I will go where ever you are."

"Why hello, I do have your phone. Don't you worry, your phone is safe with me. I will be at the Homeless Clinic in about 20 minutes next to the Lexington Brothers hospital. I have a blue bike. You'll see my blue bike out front. Don't you worry."

"So you will be at the homeless clinic. I will meet you there. What's your name?"

"I will have a blue bike. My name is Michael Brennie. B-R-E-N-N-I-E. I'll be at the homeless clinic. I have your phone."

"Alright I will see you soon. Thank you so much."

And we were off! My colleague Anthony and I were on our way to the homeless clinic to meet up with Michael Brennie, B-R-E-N-N-I-E. On the way, I stopped at the bank and took out $40 to give him for being such a grand citizen.

As we drove to the homeless clinic, I was praying that this man was telling the truth about everything. We parked the car. As we walked toward the homeless clinic, I spotted something that reassured me, a blue bike right out front. We walked into the homeless clinic, passed folks who were definitely struggling with just living. We asked the reception where we might find Michael Brennie and she pointed us toward the waiting room. 

We popped into the wait room where 4 characters sat, dazed, exhausted from sleepless strung out nights, and in need of something.

My colleague shouts "Is there a Michael Brennie here? Michael Brennie?"

We turn to our right and there sitting, slouched down with a green worn t-shirt, baggy pants, and white shoes that have seen better days, is Mr. Michael Brennie. He says "I'm Michael."

"Are you Michael Brennie?"

"Michael Brennie. B-R-E-N-N-I-E."

"Hi Michael, oh my goodness, you have my phone, thank you so much!"

"Well, actually, I don't have your phone."

"What?! What happened?"

"The VTA light rail security guard confiscated it from me."

"Oh, well that's okay. I really appreciate you helping me out. I got this for you." I hand him the $40. 

Brennie says, "Oh wow, I really need this. Thank you so much." He looks over at the spaced out woman to his right. "See what happens when you do right and do good things."

My colleague then steps into the hallway and gives me a whisper. We huddle in the hall and he has me log into Find my iPhone so we can corroborate Mr. Brennie's story. I crossed my fingers and the app GPS'd to my phone...and what do you know - my phone was traveling again along the San Jose light rail line. God Bless Michael Brennie. 

I walked back to thank Michael and he then asks, "Can I get a hug?"

"Of course you can!"

Brennie asks, "What's your name?"

"My name is Stephanie."

"Oh, I used to date a girl named Stephanie." (He breaks into song.) "Myyyy babyyy Stephanie, darrrrlin Stephy. Oh you smell like roses."

"Thanks again Michael, God Bless."

And that was it. I met Michael Brennie. We were now off again and this time chasing the light rail. My colleague stops at an intersection and we see a light rail stopped. He puts his car in park, hops out of the driver's seat before I notice, and shouts to me to drive his car. I quickly hop into the driver's seat and can't reach the pedals. Of course the light turns green and I have to quickly adjust the seat while driving and wearing heels.

I park his car and run over to where he is. Now he's on hold again with customer service and is talking to the VTA security guards. They inform us that my phone is now headed to Milpitas - really getting the most out of its trip.

We rush back to the car and get a VTA person on the phone. They know exactly where my phone is and we schedule a time to meet the VTA driver who has my phone in downtown San Jose. 

We then head downtown to catch the 10:53 light rail driver on his route. 

When the light rail comes to the downtown stop, I knock on the driver's window. 

I immediately say, "You have my phone, I'm Stephanie."

The light rail driver, "Well, good morning to you," with a big friendly smile.

And that was it, my phone was returned to me and I got to encounter good ol' Michael Brennie.

B-R-E-N-N-I-E 

Tune in next time for my wild shenanigans,
​Sterp

​

​
​