The frantic pace of big cities has never been a good ally of memory. Even less so when the rush to reach the next destination forces attention to focus on the drama unfolding on the cell phone screen, a battle between the estimated arrival time given by the navigator and the route that promises to avoid traffic. In this logic, Uber presented its latest update of the forgotten items index, a snapshot formed from hundreds of thousands of user reports at the end of a trip.
Apart from everyday objects, the index presents some unusual cases, such as a basket with 400 tacos inside, a kilo of cooked octopus, and even a sack of chili powder. Also appearing on the list are a feather headdress (a feathered headpiece used by ancient Mesoamerican cultures as a symbol of power and authority, currently used by dancers), a Doctor Simi plush toy, and a recently purchased wrestler mask from Arena Mexico, in the heart of the capital. Some musical instruments, such as an accordion, an African drum, and a ukulele have been claimed after being left in the trunk; as well as beauty accessories like hair extensions, complete makeup bags, highlighters, and mascara.
The report confirms that cell phones and cameras occupy the first place among the most forgotten items when getting out of the car, followed by wallets and handbags. The podium is completed by backpacks, bags, folders, or suitcases; as well as keys, headphones, and speakers. Next come clothing, glasses, passports, and even cash. The frequency of lost items according to the city is entirely related to the number of trips. Mexico City ranks first nationally, followed by Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Tijuana.
The index also shows the pulse of both daily routine and days of disconnection: most forgetfulness occurs on weekends, with Friday night being the time when most things are lost, followed by Saturday afternoon and early Sunday morning, a clear allusion to returning home after a party. The data also reveals a trend about the days on which more objects are lost according to their characteristics: while on Wednesdays more laptop chargers tend to be left on the back seat, on Tuesdays and Fridays the laptop itself is the object most reported as lost in the app.