View Poll Results: Farthest distance you've traveled back for something you forgot?
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Farthest you've ever traveled back for something you forgot?
#1
DVD Talk God
Thread Starter
Farthest you've ever traveled back for something you forgot?
Last week I picked up some takeout food at a Mom and Pop restaurant near my work. I bought about $15 worth and put it in the office refrigerator.
I was working the night shift and got off around 2am and in my haze, I forgot it. Didn't realize that I forgot the food until I was 14 miles into my drive. It was very late and there was no traffic, so I decided to turn back and get it. I wasn't coming back to the office for 3 days and it would have gotten thrown out by the janitor staff. I would have hated to have that money gone to waste.
Anyways, I managed to get back to the office in roughly 15 minutes and it wasn't a huge hassle. If this was during actual work hours, I wouldn't have turned back, especially having to deal with traffic.
So my question to all of you is what is the farthest distance that you've turned back to get something you forgot that was important enough to do so?
Forget something at the office? At home? While on vacation? Again, during normal work hours, food wouldn't have been urgent enough to turn back to the office for me, but I did it since it was late with no traffic.
I was working the night shift and got off around 2am and in my haze, I forgot it. Didn't realize that I forgot the food until I was 14 miles into my drive. It was very late and there was no traffic, so I decided to turn back and get it. I wasn't coming back to the office for 3 days and it would have gotten thrown out by the janitor staff. I would have hated to have that money gone to waste.
Anyways, I managed to get back to the office in roughly 15 minutes and it wasn't a huge hassle. If this was during actual work hours, I wouldn't have turned back, especially having to deal with traffic.
So my question to all of you is what is the farthest distance that you've turned back to get something you forgot that was important enough to do so?
Forget something at the office? At home? While on vacation? Again, during normal work hours, food wouldn't have been urgent enough to turn back to the office for me, but I did it since it was late with no traffic.
#3
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Farthest you've ever traveled back for something you forgot?
I'll probably remember something else later on. The first thing that came to mind was I was doing some shopping. When I was unloading at home realized I forgot a cookie sheet. Drove back to the store and it was still laying flat in the cart at the cart corral.
#4
Admin
Re: Farthest you've ever traveled back for something you forgot?
I left my fitbit in a Subway sandwitch bathroom in Ft Lauderdale and realized it when I was already on Alligator Alley. There's a turnaround about 30 miles in and that's where I turned around to go back for it.
#6
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Farthest you've ever traveled back for something you forgot?
On a drive to SLC, I once left my purse hanging on the door in a rest stop. Luckily, it was manned (basically a truck stop as well as an official rest area). Added 4+ hours to my trip because I had to drive south a bit more to borrow money from my friend for gas.
#9
Suspended
#10
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Farthest you've ever traveled back for something you forgot?
I've forgotten stuff at work (or vice versa) and make the trip back for it (about 15 miles). I've also left stuff at my parents house (who live about 70 miles from me) and gone back to get it...but those instances have been either the next day or a week later - depending on how important the item was.
#11
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Farthest you've ever traveled back for something you forgot?
I can't recall going too far, so I'll choose the up to 5 miles option.
I have friends that have shared stories of going back for their kids they've left behind.
That's never happened to me.
I have friends that have shared stories of going back for their kids they've left behind.

#12
Senior Member
Re: Farthest you've ever traveled back for something you forgot?
Work 30 miles one way. Multiple times. These are the examples of when I've already gotten home and realized... oh shit!
1. for my reading glasses. I can't work without them. I have a back up pair now.
2. portable (external) hard drive with work I was taking home that night. I've done this trip twice.
3. flash drive (thumb drive) same reason as #2.
I only go back for the drives because I don't want the info that's on them falling into the wrong hands.
It's a bummer, but the drive at night is a lot quicker since there is usually no traffic. It just sucks that I end up driving over 120 miles for that day. I've been better double checking before I leave and now I think I have OCD because of it.
1. for my reading glasses. I can't work without them. I have a back up pair now.
2. portable (external) hard drive with work I was taking home that night. I've done this trip twice.
3. flash drive (thumb drive) same reason as #2.
I only go back for the drives because I don't want the info that's on them falling into the wrong hands.
It's a bummer, but the drive at night is a lot quicker since there is usually no traffic. It just sucks that I end up driving over 120 miles for that day. I've been better double checking before I leave and now I think I have OCD because of it.
#13
Re: Farthest you've ever traveled back for something you forgot?
Work 30 miles one way. Multiple times. These are the examples of when I've already gotten home and realized... oh shit!
1. for my reading glasses. I can't work without them. I have a back up pair now.
2. portable (external) hard drive with work I was taking home that night. I've done this trip twice.
3. flash drive (thumb drive) same reason as #2.
I only go back for the drives because I don't want the info that's on them falling into the wrong hands.
It's a bummer, but the drive at night is a lot quicker since there is usually no traffic. It just sucks that I end up driving over 120 miles for that day. I've been better double checking before I leave and now I think I have OCD because of it.
1. for my reading glasses. I can't work without them. I have a back up pair now.
2. portable (external) hard drive with work I was taking home that night. I've done this trip twice.
3. flash drive (thumb drive) same reason as #2.
I only go back for the drives because I don't want the info that's on them falling into the wrong hands.
It's a bummer, but the drive at night is a lot quicker since there is usually no traffic. It just sucks that I end up driving over 120 miles for that day. I've been better double checking before I leave and now I think I have OCD because of it.
#14
DVD Talk Gold Edition
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Re: Farthest you've ever traveled back for something you forgot?
A few months ago I was travelling back home after going to my brother's graduation. It's about 3 hours away. I came back home Saturday morning and didn't realize til about 45 minutes from home that I had left my work laptop at his place. I would have had him just send it to me, but I had a deadline that I would be working on Sunday that couldn't be missed. Was about a 6 hour roundtrip detour once you add in food and everything. At least I decided to get something good out of it and stop at one of my favorite restaurants near his place.
#15
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Farthest you've ever traveled back for something you forgot?
Up to 5 miles. We'll usually pause before we walk out the door and go over the things we need to bring with us, before we leave. But on the off chance that we forgot something, it's usually not worth it to drive back any further than 5 miles to get it.
#16
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Farthest you've ever traveled back for something you forgot?
I can't recall backtracking any more than 5ish miles for anything. The one I can recall was for a gift that my wife left at home, and it was easier to go back than to mail it later on.
I have forgotten many things before on trips and the like, but I've either made do without or bought new.
I have forgotten many things before on trips and the like, but I've either made do without or bought new.
#17
Re: Farthest you've ever traveled back for something you forgot?
About an hour's drive after I left my work cellphone in baggage claim at an airport. It was miraculously waiting for me when I got back. Thank God for Blackberrys being not worth stealing.
#19
DVD Talk Legend
Join Date: Jul 2000
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Re: Farthest you've ever traveled back for something you forgot?
Only a couple of times, both for my cellphone left on a charger, and only a couple of miles. Every other time I decided whatever it was could be done without.
#20
Moderator
Re: Farthest you've ever traveled back for something you forgot?
I was with a brand-new friend. Literally, it was the second time we were hanging out. We were halfway to a concert in Denver two hours away when we realized I left the tickets tucked behind a magnet on my fridge. I was so embarrassed. We had to turn around, get the tickets, then head back out to go to the show. Turns out we missed the opening act (Slayter Kenney) and arrived just as the lights went down for the headliner (Pearl Jam). Depending on your point of view, our timing was pathetic or perfect.
#21
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: Farthest you've ever traveled back for something you forgot?
Wow. Slayter Kenney? I've always wanted to see the combined supergroup of Slayer, Kenny Rogers, and Sleater-Kinney. It seems like you missed a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

#24
Moderator
Re: Farthest you've ever traveled back for something you forgot?
