requiem for a small pile of insignificant objects
One December night in the 1980s, I was visiting my mom during my Christmas break from college. I remember that we were watching Dynasty. Mom, had usual, had gone the Christmas distance. Votive candles twinkled on the glass shelves that were decorated with heirlooms — figurines and teacups that had been in the family for years. Irreplaceable stuff. I think you know where this is going.
A shocking wall of noise. The heat of the candles had shattered the glass of the top shelf. A vertical domino effect was achieved as one shelf crashed into the next, into the next. There were no surviving heirlooms.
My mom’s face was remarkable as she stared at the smoking wreckage. I could see all the emotions struggling for dominance — regret, horror, panic, sadness. But she immediately shook herself, and with a half-laugh, said, “Oh! Well. You can only feel so bad. They’re only things. Just things.” And she meant it.
So, my car was broken into last night. Goodbye to my iPod (and half the FM transmitter), credit cards, keys (but not my house key), license. Goodbye to my gym bag and that pair of warm boots and the sweater I hardly ever wore. Goodbye to my robot bag, the suede purse with the annoyingly-short straps, and that phone charger (but strangely, not my phone). And bye bye driver’s side window.
Oh, things. The aftermath is a pain in the ass, but you are only things. Hardly a blip on my emotional radar. So, enjoy yourselves in your new lives! I release you!
Update! On Friday, February 22, I got a call from a nearby gym, informing me that someone found my AAA, Meryn’s, and Smart N’ Final cards sitting outside on the ground. Puzzling, since my car was broken into at a different gym 3 weeks prior.
Another update! Not so puzzling. I talked to Officer P and he said there’s a “transient camp” near the gym where my cards were found. Officer P is going to look around the camp today (maybe undercover?? or wearing a wire??) Maybe he’ll find my robot bag!
Wow. If you are really capable of being so philosophical about it, that’s fabulous. Allow me to hold the grudge for you. Reading of your auto misadventure pissed me off, as it brought about memories of when my car was violated in downtown LA a few years ago. We were in crackhead territory, and they made off with two large shopping bags of freshly acquired goodies from Sur La Table… birthday presents to myself in the trunk of my car. (I was SO glad they hadn’t made off with my Danskos, though!) One of the items taken was a green tea counter cleanser. Thoughts of them drinking it out of the Riedel tumblers they scored… *&@$^!%
Yeah. I’LL f%cking damn your ASSailants to hell for you. B@st@rds.
Aw, who’s my sweet lil vigilante!? Thanks so much. I have too much on my mind to get too het up over this, but I GREATLY appreciate those who do. My friend Dan W weighs in (paraphrasing my fave movie): “those people are bastard people!”
Like I said, it could have been worse. It could have been like the house break-in of 87 .. all the jewelry. ALL the jewelry. Aigh.
Bella, I’m sorry for your inconvenience and the loss of your stuff. If I see someone carrying your robot bag, I will interrogate them, possibly with the use of high-watt lights and rubber hoses.
Also, I have not been able to comment until now, but I love your new layout and banner. Very lovely.
Ay ay ay! How incredibly annoying! Everytime I hear of something like this, I’m still thinking: How COULD they!!! I agree with Dan: Bastards! I know what you’re saying – I try to have the same approach as your mom, and you, and my mom: They’re just things. The amount of time getting it all fixed afterwards, that’s not just things though.
I’ve never had any breaking into anything. The closest thing I’ve experienced was when I bought three pairs of shoes and took the bus home. Of course I forgot the bags on the top shelf in the bus, and when I called the bus company an hour later, they were gone. All three pairs (or was it two? I don’t remember anymore. Next time I’m thinking of it, I’m going for four!). So, after cursing for some minutes, I landed on this conclusion: A. I hope the person taking my shoes really, really needed them! and B. I hope she’ll get one h… of a blister!
I like “hobo camp” more, even though I shouldn’t. I wish I were there, as back-up…
I am willing to go undercover on this mission, if need be.
I can walk the walk, yo.