How does one forget a violin worth 170 thousand on a bus?

[Hardbopjazz]

At least there is a happy ending to this story. She was reunited with her violin. But how do you forget something worth that much in the first place? If it were me, I would have had the case chained to my wrist.

Reuters) - Christmas came early for a Boston music student who was reunited with the $170,000 violin she forgot in the overhead compartment of a regional commuter bus she rode last week, police said.

Muchen Hsieh, a student at the New England Conservatory in Boston, had traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, arriving at roughly 11 p.m. on Tuesday.

Christine O'Brien, a spokeswoman for the Philadelphia police, who helped Hsieh track down the missing instrument, said then came a moment of sheer panic for the student.

O'Brien said Hsieh realized she had forgotten the instrument after she was picked up from the bus station. She blamed her absent-mindedness on travel fatigue.

Article

Edited December 27, 2011 by Hardbopjazz

[Leeway]

I had read the article a few days ago and had the same reaction. Seems to happen on a fairly frequent basis to violinists, as these articles tend to pop up rather regularly. I suppose no matter the cost of the violin, the violinist is still human and hence prone to mistakes.

I know one thing: it never happens to piano players

[BFrank]

I was wondering: if someone can afford a $170K musical instrument, why do they need to take a bus at all?

[Ted O'Reilly]

I was wondering: if someone can afford a $170K musical instrument, why do they need to take a bus at all?

After paying for the violin (likely taking out a loan for it, or her parents mortgaging their house), a bus is all she can afford, I'd say...

[JSngry]

How much was the violin worth off the bus?

[Ted O'Reilly]

How much was the violin worth off the bus?

(I love grammar jokes).

[BruceH]

Same way one can forget a copy of The New Yorker on the bus...goddamn, that was $6.50!! I'm so mad at myself!

[Van Basten II]

Reason more to stick playing the piano.

[Leeway]

I was wondering: if someone can afford a $170K musical instrument, why do they need to take a bus at all?

IIRC, the violin was on some kind of educational or performance loan from a foundation. The loser (literally) is just a student.

[Daniel A]

Once I nearly put my foot through a Stradivarius in an open case on the floor. It had been haphazardly left in the practice room at the home of a family of musicians.

[BFrank]

I was wondering: if someone can afford a $170K musical instrument, why do they need to take a bus at all?

IIRC, the violin was on some kind of educational or performance loan from a foundation. The loser (literally) is just a student.

Really? They would let someone take something like that home with them?