Considering Hate
My purse was stolen today. I was rather blithely walking back to work from the bank, Christmas shopping money - $700 - wadded up in my Bettie Page wallet.
Then I felt a nudge, and a pull on my right hand: and suddenly it was light and empty. I tried running after him (Fact: I run like a girl.) I yelled after him, but apparently "YOU SON OF A BITCH!" doesn't have the same cachet as it used to, and he didn't stop to question the epithet. Dickweed.
I was crying dramatic, hands-over-face, insert-name-of-monster-here is eating my city, attention-getting tears. And I think I got the sympathy of the drivers: I heard horns honking; a bus-driver pointed to where he had run; a man close by was about to lend me his phone - he instead gave me his card (he's an attorney), two girls came up to me with a description of Dickweed's face and a woman motioned to me: she would call the police, and let them know what happened.
There was a Baskin-Robbins nearby...I just chose a table, sat down and cried. Then the woman drove up with two things: the police on her phone and my purse...sans wallet and checkbook. As I spoke to the officer I was crying so (oh, yes - I had my dignity in my wallet, too) he wanted to know if I needed a paramedic.
I called work, to explain that I'd be late - 15 minutes later I was joined in my ice-cream vigil by my boss and a co-worker. We kept waiting for the police - but even I (and I don't do this often) will admit that I was low-priority. When they did arrive they were calming and friendly - in fact, I'd like to take the time to give a shout-out to Office Fernandez, if I may. That was a pretty good joke you told us, my friend.
By now it was 5PM, and I was told to go home. I had a message waiting for me there. A guy by the name of Pete had found my wallet and its contents (no money) strewn across his lawn - when would I like to pick it up?
We arranged a meeting: it was dark by now, so it was all very stealthy, very noir - and I got my wallet. I had (almost) forgotten about the money: to get my driver's license back was just as if the ripest cheese plate had descended from heaven into my hands. I told Pete that he was not a good Samaritan - he was a fabulous Samaritan.
When this had happened I was considering hating...this city, and its inhabitants all. But as the day progressed, I found that the helpfulness and sympathies of others - so many others - outweighted the cussedness of a single Dickweed.
That is to say, I was considering hate - but then I thought better of it.
Comments
{hugs}
OMG. I'm so sorry that asshole got your Christmas shopping money ... but I'm so glad you were surrounded by caring people and got your driver's license back!
((((Aubs))))
*comforting purrrrs* from the Miao Brothers
Hugs from me, nosebumps from Her N-ness. I'm glad your OK.
And, from your deft hand at putting this horrible event into wonderful words, it would seem, you are going to be OK. Good.
But, really, did you *have* to go to a Baskin-ROBbins? Tch.
I feel funny clicking the TIG box but I need to:
I was just telling a friend new to Vox to check out your blog the other day because I so admire how you "speak" when you write. Once again, and this is in no way disregarding the horrible horrible thing that happened to you, I just have to tell you that it is simply amazing to me how beautifully you write.
Even in the face of adversity and after such a shock, to have the ability to sit down and write something so beautiful in tribute of the people who helped you today, it just blows me away. That is what is deserving of the TIG.
I am so sorry this happened to you. I hope that you are ok and that somehow in the circle of things the people who gave their assistance get rewarded with something special happing in their own lives. And I wish the same for you too. You do deserve it, don't feel bad or loss of dignity for crying and reacting the way you did. Few people would have been able to handle it as well as you did.
((Hugs))
I am glad you chose not to hate because it would only hurt you and not Dickweed.
I am so sorry that you had to go through that today. That so so so so sucks. But I am so glad that you were surrounded by kind people and that you got your ID back. Our ID is as precious as money.
I have been held up at knifepoint in a shop I used to manage and I have had my bag stolen before. My bag loss wasn't as dramatic as this...I turned around in hotel and it was poof gone. It wasn't my purse but it had ALL my makeup, my big case of supplements, and my precious organizer complete with some credit cards.
Some people just suck. I like to think that karma gets them....and gets them good.
Much like you, I got all my stuff back. But it took quite awhile for that sense of violation/victim to quit riding my shoulder, always nagging me by making me suspicious of people who didn't warrant it.
I eventually took Foxydee's karma attitude... figuring that a person who was willing to steal was already living a life that I would deem to be hell on earth - and I should be thankful for the blessings I tend to overlook.
Aubrey in Peril! Oh noes! I wonder if Dickweed followed you from the bank and knew you had just gotten money out. I'm so glad he didn't hurt you -- even knocking a person to the sidewalk can cause injury.
So many people around to comfort -- there's your Christmas miracle. Did they give you free ice cream? They must have, what am I thinking?
I'm grateful you're safe.
Losing that much money would just about crush me. But I agree, at the end of the day, there's a lot of other stuff that counts. And thank heavens you got your driver's license back!
I've posted enough about my brushes with crime that I'm sure you'll believe it when I say I completely understand what you went through. Despite the loss of the funds, you got your stuff back (and that's the hard stuff to replace, pain in the butt stuff), met some nice people, heard a good joke, AND had ice cream.
A hug to you, my friend!
ohhh, that sucks, Aubrey! I would feel the same way, just happy to get the driver's license back, but still. Ugh. Good attitude though. It's traumatic but you can't take it personally, and as you said, way more people showed up to help to outnumber the Dickweed. which is an amazing and good thing.
*hugs*
good to hear there are some humanity in the world but it still was an expensive experience for you. i'm so sorry.
To all: thank you so much! There's nothing like an outpouring of righteous anger and sympathy and hugs to put a girl back on her feet.
EWQueenie, all I could do was give the police an excellent description of the back of his head and his shirt. Could they work with that?
Thank you MBrothers! Thanks to Her N-ness!
pyrit: cut it out. Now.
Metz: I'm quite undeserving of such a tribute. ThankyouThankyouThankyou.
I can only hope that your wishes for bad and nasty karma will combine into one truly evil event for Dickweed. One, of course, can only hope.
As for your good concerns for my safety...at first I never thought about any danger; all I thought about was my sudden Lack Of Purse. Aubrey has to prioritize.
Last night I thought I deserved a treat. I watched an episode of 'Xena: Warrior Princess' to see how a girl should really take care of herself.
I am SO sorry this happened.
Your telling of the tale, however, has tears prickling behind my eyelids. And, you make me not want to hate, but to be thankful for the good people that are out there.
Dickweed will get his...somewhere, somehow.
As for the good people....thank the gods for them!!!