Wednesday 18 March 2009

Burglary

Somebody up there was listening when I claimed that greed was a deadly sin I didn't have. I was sorely tested yesterday. When I returned home from work John met me with the bad news that while he was in the house - either inside the house playing card games on his computer with the door shut, or outside gardening - his wallet had been stolen from his jacket pocket where it was draped over one of the dining-room chairs (near the front door).
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At first we thought it had simply dropped out of his pocket, and the first half hour was spent looking in likely places. But then I had cause to walk about 10m to the other end of the house and I realised it was serious - all drawers had been opened and some contents were strewn around, and my jewellery box was upside down and almost empty: worthless trinkets had been left behind.
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How they got away with it with John around is a total mystery, but it was probably for the best that they did. He's the sort of person who would have confronted them, and at 81 with a heart condition, despite the fact that he used to box in the army when he was young, I wouldn't have reckoned his chances were very high at getting them to return stolen goods - in fact it's more likely that they would have responded with violence. He just shrugs his shoulders and says it would still have been worth it... (what is it with you men for goodness sake?)
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They took every last piece of jewellery I possess, except what I was wearing. There was my mother's jewellery, including a little gold ring with her initials given to her by her father which she had worn as a child, and after being worn by my sister for a while, was worn by me until my fingers became as fat as the rest of me - it used to make me smile that the initials were "GAS". Also her engagement ring, in the family for at least 100 years that we know of, and I was very proud of being the custodian of these beautiful items which would be eventually passed down to the only grandaughter, my niece. There was the pink topaz my father gave me on my seventeenth birthday, the stone for which I had chosen myself (the biggest I could see - greed again...), the peridot I inherited from Granny, and a whole series of pretty stone rings, earrings and pendants which I had bought on eBay some years ago when I was better off. Nothing flashy you understand, just stones of different colours to match whatever outfit I might be wearing - I was secretly proud of my taste, and adored wearing them. One of the rewards I promised myself after having the lapband fitted was that I would one day return to my "friends" and wear them all again.
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I'm taken by surprise as I remember them in turn today while doing other jobs, and grieve for each and every one, apologising to the spirits of my parents for being so hopeless at looking after them. At the same time I acknowledge that at the time I was buying them on eBay I was clearly displaying that which I have claimed not to recognise - greed. I just didn't expect the lesson to be so hard.
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-oOo-

8 comments:

DocSly said...

Oh, I am so sorry. What a violation of your home and safety. Caroline, you are not the bad person, the theives are. I can't imagine losing all those little items that are most valuable for their memory and not necessarily their worth. I am glad your significant other was occupied and didn't confront them. Who knows what could have transpired. Take care.

Shaggs said...

I think the worst feeling is the violation and anger at someone going through your things - its not pretty. Remember though, the stories, the love and the memories that go with those trinkets are what is important not the actual pieces - they wont go away just because the item is gone. The spirits of your loved ones will always be with you even if their possessions aren't.

Lonicera said...

Thank you both. The Pollyanna game hasn't been working too well, but I'll blog again in a couple of days. Thanks again.
Caroline

Nola said...

That's terrible!! I am truely sorry that happened to you! The thought of someone sneaking around in your house and while you were home.....unbelievable!!!
I am glad he didn't realise because you are right in saying they would probably have reacted with violence.....so that is one good thing.
Shaggs is right though....the memories cannot be stolen from you!

Reddirt Woman said...

I am so sorry for you. I was robbed many years ago. It was a 12 & 14 year old that had cut school, broke the window pane on the laundry room door and grabbed some of Carol's son's gameboy and some games, some of my cds and then got into Carol's jewelry box and my jewelry box. We had retired neighbors that saw the boys leaving with a duffle bag and they called the police who later caught up with them and we got most of the property back...except for the thing most important to me, a ring that my oldest brother brought me from Bamako, Mali, in Africa. I stayed with his wife and children while he went to help our 7 mo. pregnant sister and her 3 y.o. son fly back to the states. She had to come back before her husband because his tour wouldn't be done for another month and a half and it would have been too dangerous for her to fly. Bill brought me a ring, hand made by one of the artisans in Bamako as a thank you for helping out with his family while he was gone.

It wasn't expensive, but meant the world to me. I have mourned for that ring for over 20 years.

May you get over it much sooner than I have...

Helen - sorry for the novella

Dawn said...

OH Caroline... I to have been on the end of a senseless burglary. My heart goes out to you. I lost my Mum's wedding ring, one that my grandfather had bought... now lost. And the little bastards stole many other items that weren't expensive but which had mean't a great deal to me. And I do agree with Shaggs, they can never take away your memories.

:o(
xx

oozyxena said...

A taste, A touch, A piece of music, A smell all made for memories, I am so so sorry to hear of this, Having to grieve again for lost love ones as the terrible unforgiving actions of others force you to feel the pains of loss again. No words can take that kind of pain away.
I am so pleased John did not know they were there, as you say it could quite easily have been a whole different story.

I am thinking of you my friend.

With love Zena xx

Lonicera said...

Thank you Zena, and thank you all for being so kind.
Caroline

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