Bummer of the month

A couple of weeks ago, I spent Smidget's two and a half hour preschool time--you know that precious time to which I refer--dragging my non-compliant 18 month old shopping hater through Target, Winco and Costco. Not the best use of it, but necessary. We ended our trip by picking up the preschooler but as I drove away, I remembered that I had a few books on hold at the library, one of which I'd lost at least twice by letting it linger on the request shelf too long. Reluctantly, I swung by the library. "In and out" I thought, and even determined not to switch my cell to vibrate since it would be so quick. It WAS quick, at first--I grabbed my 13! books and headed to the self-scanner. But my wallet, sadly, had been recently pillaged by my baby and held no library card. This meant I had to stand in a line which inexplicably progressed as quickly as a funeral processional. Twice I had to leave my pile of books and sundries to chase down a rambunctious Queenie. I left with one of my arms full of her (screaming of course) and my other balancing books. In my hand I clung to the loose possessions I had carried in with me--keys, wallet, phone. (No pockets that day, and unfortunately no purse/diaper bag or even my usual book bag.)

Circumstances had conspired against me. And I told a little fib, because--though I had had all of those loose possessions on me when I entered the library--one was no longer in my possession. I didn't realize I was sans cell phone until about 3 minutes down the road. I promptly turned around, dragged the screaming kids back to the library, begged to use their phone to call it, but all to no avail. Someone had swiped my phone. I was discouraged and depressed (flustered too), but the full force of the situation didn't really hit me until later, when D took me to the store to find a new phone and I discovered that the phone I loved (and had only had since June) would not only cost $300 to replace but now required a data plan subscription, which I didn't want. There was no way to get a phone remotely as good as mine without forking over a lot of cash. I shed a few tears, all the while playing a little lecture in my head about what is really important and how stupid I was to feel so attached to a material possession.

I am still a little bitter, though. And the world is a tiny bit greyer now that I've been reminded that there are people out there who will watch a woman run around chasing kids and take that opportunity of distraction to be a thief.

There is lots more going on with me, but that was the bummer of the month. I'll write something else soon, I promise. And maybe you'll even get a photo! ;)