Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,
Melynda mentioned recently that some putrid pig stole Mr. P's bike (see http://melyndarockinthecrazy.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-trailerhood.html).
So today's question is the following: Have you ever stolen anything or had anything stolen from you? If you feel uncomfortable about answering this question, I will accept anonymous comments as long as they stick to the topic and don't get nasty like the ones I received that led me to take my blog private for a while.
As for stealing, I went through a little spate of shoplifting small items in stores when I was in about sixth grade. One of my older sisters, who shall remain nameless, told me about her techniques for "copping" items, as she termed it. I remember taking a deck of cards from a store and a small, painted dish, which I gave to a friend.
Although I didn't steal anything of great value, I'm not proud of myself for what I did. It was stupid, and my sister was stupid. She's still stupid. I'm ashamed that I allowed Stupid to be my leader.
As for having something stolen from me, this is a big old nasty YES!
When we moved from Maryland to Illinois, we had packers and movers. I did not allow them to handle my most valuable jewelry. I moved it myself, in a laundry basket with some important papers.
The laundry basket drove to Illinois with us.
When we arrived, I stupidly put the laundry basket in the middle of the master bedroom. Of course, the moving men were going in and out, bringing our furniture and boxes into the new house.
When I finally got around to unpacking, my diamond necklace had disappeared from the basket. Although I was sure one of the moving men had taken it (it didn't get up and walk out by itself), I didn't accuse anyone because I had no grounds to do so. The necklace wouldn't have been covered by the moving insurance because I moved it myself.
Gosh, I still miss that pretty necklace -- the first really nice piece of jewelry that Dr. X gave me.
Now, how about you? Have you ever stolen anything or had anything stolen from you?
Infinities of love,
Janie Junebug
My motto as an editor: Authors are the authority on their work. I'm a full-service editor. For a reasonable fee, I'm your writing coach from the first suggested revision to the correction of the final typo.
When I was about 13 I had a passion for model airplanes, tanks, cars, etc. So I went down to Atlanta to the big department store and stole six models…even used their free shopping bags to carry them out. When my mom saw them she had a shit-fit and made me take them back.
ReplyDeleteBut she was too embarrassed, lazy, stupid or all the above to go with me. And I damn sure wasn’t going back to that store to return them. So I first went down to the river to throw them away. But I got a better idea. I gave one to some of my pals and they told their moms that they won them in a contest at school. Then I got to go to their house and help them make put them together.
Win all the way around. She felt good that she did the right thing by making me return them, I got to give my pals a free gift that made them happy, and I got to help put them together.
I have other tales, and I’m pretty sure the statute of limitations have run out, but not totally sure, so I’ll just leave. Chau!
What a clever little devil!
DeleteWhen I was in elementary school I stole some stuff from the local 5 & 10 cent store. My mom made me go back & tell the manager what I did. Never stole anything again--I even tell people when they've given me too much change!
ReplyDeleteEven though I never got caught, I'm super careful now to make sure I'm never undercharged or given too much change. My bank once accidentally put $1000 in my checking account. I called immediately and told them.
DeleteI was a complete dork growing up. Wouldn't have had the guts to even try stealing a comic book.
ReplyDeleteHave had stuff stolen though. Back in grad school, I lived in an off campus apartment. Had a crack head (they caught him a while later...minus any and all of my stuff) break in and steal my stereo, a hunting knife, and a giant bag of gummy bears. No idea on that last one.
Had both of our cars broken into last year. They stole GPS', documents, and a Leatherman tool I had in my glove compartment...oh yeah and some smashed windows.
Lots of fun.
Dorks can be pretty good people. I have to admit, though, I'm the one who took the gummy bears. The pot made me do it.
DeleteWhen I was a lot younger, I would steal little things from shops. Mainly things like batteries for my C.D. player, or little bottles of incense oils that were right on the counter. I would always pick up two and put one back. I don't know how the woman didn't realise!
ReplyDeleteI've had bits and pieces stolen from me too...including a garden bench from right under my window while I was sitting right indoors next to the window!
{I phoned the local newspaper and a guy along the street brought it back.}
Some teenage boys walked into my sister's house and took a number of items from the living room, where her husband sat sleeping in a chair.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
My life of crime was thwarted at an early age. I was always an annoying little miss goody-two-shoes, and a nerd, to boot, but in seventh grade, I met a new gal named Donna and hung around with her for a while. She was, I guess, what we'd call a "bad influence." Among other things, Donna was a class A number one shoplifter. Never got caught, either. We were in a store one day, and she kept bugging me to steal something, and I finally wrapped my fingers around a scarf. Immediately, my looseleaf binder and huge stack of books slipped from my arms and crashed to the floor. (Um, did I mention I was a huge nerd? I'm talking a LOT of books.) Papers flew out of my looseleaf, books scattered everywhere. I took it as a "sign." Put the scarf back and never even considered stealing anything ever again.
ReplyDeleteNerdship can be a good thing.
ReplyDeleteDumb Swede that I am I never attempted theft, sure I'd mess it up. But I was robbed at knife point by a dude half my size. He got a purse I didn't care for and the $2.00 I had in it. Due to the small amount he got away with, he went to Hollywood where he robbed someone else, threw away my driver's licence, and my wallet. My driver's licence was found by a famous singer, who turned it in to the police and a homeless man looking for something to eat found my wallet in a 7/11 trash can, they called me from the store and I picked it up. So, all in all, not a bad experience, perhaps because I was so good and never stole a thing.
ReplyDeleteKarma likes you. Who was the famous singer?
DeleteI haven't stolen anything, but I've had things stolen from me. One of my piano students actually stole a Nintendo DS game. Fortunately her mom discovered it about a month later and returned it. Needless to say, that person is not taking lessons from me anymore!
ReplyDeleteA piano student stole a small item from me once. Her mom acted like the kid had accidentally stolen it. Pissed me off.
DeleteCan't say that I've ever stolen anything. But my ex-husband stole my credit card (while we were still married) and rung up a 10K bar tab.
ReplyDeleteI gave him the boot a month later.... and sadly was left with the whole bill.
That's a lot of drinking, Juli. I guess it was "Drinks for everybody."
DeleteWhen I was about 8 or 9 my cousin brought me to a Woolworth store and talked me into stealing a pea shooter--nothing but a fat straw and worth three cents but I felt so guilty...to this day. I never confessed my sin to my folks or anything. A couple of years later I had a "God will get you for that" moment. I was babysitting and forgot to bring a pen. Borrowed this pretty pen from their desk while I was there and stuck it in my purse like you do without thinking. I never intended to take it...but they called up and I had it and they thought I was a thief. I'll never forget the way they looked and how I felt standing on their steps trying to explain. They never called me to babysit again.
ReplyDeleteAnd yet I kept a small tape measure and a roll of red plastic tape that I forgot I had in my uniform pockets when I was finally let go from the factory where I injured my arm. They were so horrible to me for so very long that when I found them later...I just kept them. So is that revenge, after-the-fact stealing?
I had our rent money (my job to collect and I had it hidden in a drawer-I thought) and all my pretty little nightgowns stolen when I lived with four girls and they had a party when I wasn't home. So, we couldn't pay the rent and I ended up living on the streets of Anoka for the whole summer of 1969. I also had a guy offer to buy all my albums at that time because I needed money...took them and never paid me. I learned to get money up front and that I prefer living alone--LOL! ;)
Rita, I hereby absolve you of the sin of stealing the pea shooter. There. All better now. Terrible about the theft of the rent money and the albums.
DeleteWhen I was about ten I stole a pack of gum from a corner market. When I was twenty, I returned the pack of gum. A weight was lifted!! LOL
ReplyDeleteGood for you!
DeleteI've never stolen anything and I don't even taste grapes in a grocery store! I did have something stolen before though. When I was 13, I was driving from Washington to Wisconsin with my Grandparents (thankfully I flew back!) but I left my makeup bag, glasses, and contact stuff behind in one of our hotels that we had stayed in overnight. We drove back to get it and the housecleaning staff had already gone through the room so the stuff was gone. We asked if they had found the items but they said there was nothing. My Grandma insisted that I left it there but they just played dumb and I lost it all. The glasses were a pain to have gone, but at 13, having my makeup gone was devastating! I was always careful for anything I left in a hotel after that.
ReplyDelete