Happy holiday season, Minimalist friends! I hope you were thankful during your November gatherings and are continuing to revel in the giving season. We experienced an irritating black mark on our otherwise merry December this week...
On the weekend, we stopped to visit the MIL at her assisted living home before an evening out. I placed (stupidly, I realize) my purse under the seat of Hubby's truck, and we visited for an hour. Upon returning to the car, we found the driver's side window smashed and my purse gone. Of course, with credit cards, ID, and the cash that was atypically in my wallet! For some reason, the smash-and-grabbers missed Hubby's phone and wallet in the console, but did abscond with my stuff. My phone was fortunately with me.
We were angry and violated, and trudged home in defeat to cancel credit cards and clean out glass. The thieves had only had a chance to hit Redbox to steal some movies, so at least they didn't get a holiday spree on Chase bank and me. I made a list of companies to call and auto-pays to change, all the while bitter someone had done something so mean, obviously NOT what they were taught in Sunday school.
The stolen purse was one that Hubby had bought me in Vegas with winnings from a guys' trip. Not irreplaceable, but expensive and bought with love.
After I stewed overnight, I realized my thought process wasn't super minimalist. Yes, inconvenience thrust upon me by a thief was a pisser. Yes, I had to go get a new wallet since I don't keep lots of spares in the house. But should I let this derail my holiday spirit? Was I putting too much stock in the physical objects of a car window and a Burberry cross-body bag? Perhaps.
Then, karma gave me a call.
A few months ago, my son and his friends found an ID somewhere at a bar in College Town USA. I saw it on the table at their house and asked whose it was, and they said "oh we found it, I don't know her". I said you HAVE to return it; she is probably really upset to have lost it!
Driving home that same day from his house, I dropped MY driver's license at a gas station 70 miles from home. When I realized it the next day, I phoned the popular gas station/roadside stop and just inquired if MAYBE someone found it? And you know what? Someone had and turned it in. They mailed it back to me, and I told my son to immediately mail back the ID they had found.
He didn't. He brought it home to me, so I could mail it back and complete the circle. I did.
Back to the Christmas theft here. Two days after we cancelled cards and mourned some cash, I got a call on the home voice mail (still have a land line!). It was an employee at a vet clinic 8 miles from the theft location who had found my driver's license in a parking lot and looked up my number to call. If I wanted it back, it was at their front desk!
What?? I had been at work, so hadn't had the pleasure of a DMV visit yet, and that was on my to-do list for the very next day! I was also happy no one was using my ID at various stores opening credit accounts. I also received a Facebook message from the employee saying "You don't know me, but I found your ID and you can come get it!"
So I did. I packed up a little Christmas basket for this young single dad who had taken moments out of his life to give me a hand. I dropped it off at the vet clinic, happily picked up my license, and wished the whole office a great day.
People are good. Stuff doesn't matter (although identification sorta matters). Merry Christmas.
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