Robbed...

I was robbed.

I had just finished up with a photoshoot on a Saturday at Wheeler Farm with a super fun family. It was FREEZING...literally, I don't think the temperature got past the teens that day. A lady ran up to us, asking if I owned a Honda Odyssey. I said yes, it's mine (she repeated the license plate) and she got this really sad look on her face. All I could think of on the inside, was please tell me you just totalled my car - it's as old as Kyle - when she said, I'm sorry, someone broke your window. I immediately broke out the phone, and called Troy (who was golfing on this freezing day) and instructed him to call our bank and deactivate my debit card. I got to my car, looked in the window, and saw my wallet sitting on the seat (I had gotten gas on my way to the shoot). I noticed that my cute red purse which I had tucked neatly under the center console, was gone. I thought, the fools, they reached over my wallet and took my purse! It may or may not have had checkbooks in it, but it DID have my Garmin Watch (my satellite watch I use for running) in it. I paid about $200-$300 for it. Trying not to remember the exact amount.

I remember feeling stunned, yet calm. I knew there was nothing that could be done and knew there was no reason to freak out about it. The police officer was kind, and filled out a report. The father of the family I had taken photos of searched the nearby trash cans and then helped another nice man try to 'board' up my broken window with cardboard and plastic for my very cool 25 minute drive on the freeway home.

When I got home, I layed in my bed and cried. I was so cold after shooting in the cold for over an hour, then dealing with the car for so long, and I just felt violated. I felt like I always cause money problems over Christmas. Last year, I wrecked the van on a snowy day into a curb, causing $800 worth of damage to it. I really wished that Troy could be the person to get robbed, not me. The kids wanted to know why I was crying, and Troy being the sensitive person he is, told them it was cause I was a boob.

Sunday morning one of our friends came to our door EARLY and told Kyle not to tell us, but that he was going to vacuum out the glass for us. He had hauled over a huge vacuum in a tiny festiva and got started. Troy was in the shower, and I was still in bed after taking Kristin to the ER in the middle of the night for an asthma attack. I was mortified that someone would come do that. Have you seen my garage? It's not exactly tidy. Troy told me to get over it, and to accept service. I am very grateful that person vacuumed out my car.

The following Monday we got a new window. The cost was $133.00. Not as bad as I thought it would be.

Tuesday, I went to the grocery store, parked my car, then halfway into the store, ran back and moved my car, because I thought it was parked in a bad spot and may get broken into.

Wednesday, I got a new purse, that is COMPLETELY empty. Everytime I pick it up, I am convinced someone has stolen my wallet out of it...

Everyday since...I feel no security...I stay up late, thinking that the robber has my address...I lock the doors, I double check - in the middle of the night...I carry my purse with me EVERYWHERE...

My window wasn't just broken, my purse wasn't just stolen, my Garmin watch isn't just gone...

I was robbed.