Stuff happens

Everyone knows the saying "sh*t happens" but some people (annoying idiots) think or imply that it only happens to other people and NOT to them because, you know, they are special and do all the "right things." I have a few family members like that; I'd prefer not to name them, but hope I'm still alive when their kid(s) become teenagers. Because life IS full of surprises! The positives have been our utterly helpful bank(her money is already back in her account), the kindness of the two police departments involved in the cases (several personal phone calls) and the thanks that I've been getting from Alison herself. "I appreciate everything you're doing, Mom." "Thanks for all the rides and the help." Will it keep her from ever doing anything like this again? Um...I hope so, but...who knows? And I've been hearing lots and lots of stories from friends and from people on the phone about this happening to them and to others they know, so it's evidently quite common to have a purse or wallet stolen. The update is that there is a very unhappy fireworks seller in Bonney Lake who accepted a $140 (fraudalent) check that the alert bank then wouldn't cash because it looked "funky." However, this same bank did hand over $700 of Alison's money in the drive through lane to persons unknown who used Alison's passport and credit card as ID. I guess it's pretty easy to commit fraud in a drive through because the teller can't really see the people very clearly. *sigh* When all this was going on, it didn't help my mood to stand next to an older, obese overweight woman at Fred Meyer in short shorts and a white sports bra! WASN'T I STRESSED ENOUGH? Did I really need to see that?
I enjoyed chatting with my friends at Book Club today at a waterfront restaurant. It was a glorious 75 degree day and Mount Rainier was spectacular. We're having lots of those days lately--sorry East Coast friends. The 4th is supposed to be in the 80s and beautiful too, which will make camping on Anderson Island much more enjoyable!
Somebody had to go to work today; it was her first day!
She said after her shift that "it" (ie courtesy clerk) was way harder than she thought--the bagging had to be fast and it was tricky to organize all the groceries in time, a couple of carts got away from her in the parking lot, and she had to drive one of the motorized carts back but knocked over a chair with it. Her work experience is similar to my experimentation with the D-80; it's a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. I need to have it on the right setting, not flinch when I take the picture, and press only once! We'll both just have to work on improvement, right?

Comments

[kayak woman]

I ran a cash register summers when I was in college. It wasn't a grocery store, it was a discount department store K-mart or Walmart-like place. I loved that job. I think it paid about $1.50 an hour though. Whatever minimum wage was back then.

[Miz S]

Ha! I love those pictures of your irrepressible daughter. She is so cute.

One time Josh left his wallet under the seat of his UNLOCKED car while he went jogging in a park. The lucky thief did quite a bit of shopping in two hours.

[Michelle]

Wow, fast bagging? At our stores, the cashier and the bagger stand around and chat and eventually the groceries (most of them, anyway) end up in the bags. Maybe that's a Texas thing...

Good to hear that everything got resolved!

[Marie K]

Yes, unfortunately, too many people have had a similar experience (my wallet was stolen from our Staff Room when I left my purse there by accident and a parent stole it...now it's a "staff only" room.) It's great that everyone is being kind about the whole thing.

Tell your daughter that the courtesy clerk thing gets easier. She'll get quicker and those carts won't get away quite as much. My oldest has been doing that since last summer.

[Milly]

I firmly believe in payback -- daughter will one day look at you in a totally new perspective when those kids of her complete "payback." And the scumbags who stole from the car -- there's going to be payback there and we can be totally grateful that those are NOT our kids.

Loved the photos of daughter. You guys must have so much fun together. I know -- not ALL the time but it's the good times you both will remember 20 years from now. And your good times look like great times!

An aside -- I looked at the photos of the staircases . . . and they blew me away! Wow! I have no words -- except totally beautiful.

[Tonya]

Man, I carry so much crap in my purse that I'd be in dire straits if it was ever stolen. Since this has happened to YD, I'm being a lot more aware (like not setting it in the grocery cart, even though the weight of it really makes me want a break!) I just shudder at the thought! And the people who would do such a thing are the scum of the earth. I sure do hope Karma bites them in the butt.

I love these pictures!

Have fun camping! How wonderful it is to have such stellar weather!

[Arlene]

So sorry to hear about the fraud. It's so frustrating and it is hard to believe they let someone take 700 dollars just like that. Hope your holiday weekend starts to look up!

[Chuck]

We have been ripped off several times. It sucks. Cars, wallets...I am usually grateful they are just things and not members of my family! But it still sucks.