Lost and Found (sorta)

Well, I got my phone and wallet stolen today by some punks. Yes, some punks. I was pretty angry about it because they came in the school of music and left in a jiffy. I just went to the bathroom for about 2 minutes and when i came back to my practice room my backpack was gone (along with my phone and wallet). So i scurried around upstairs looking for my things in other practice rooms imagining that someone was playing a cruel joke on me. But didn't have any luck. So...i went down to the front desk and called public safety and let them know about it. Meanwhile, Jim, the receptionist at the school of music brought me over to the surveilance cameras where we were able to see the guys who took my stuff. Well, it turns out that they ditched my bag down a back stairwell and made off clean (or so it seemed) with my wallet and phone. Punks. But! we were able to see them on the camera. But that was about it. Thankfully i had just stowed away a ten-spot that i had made earlier from accompanying Alli Bach in a voice rehearsal. Thanks Alli! Anyhow...I went down to café roma and ate a cookie and talked with a spanish tutor of a friend. I mean, what else was I supposed to do? Right? I at least had my bag with books etc...and they didn't even take my ipod. Dolts. So i cancelled cards etc... as well. The rest of my day was spent practicing and just practicing some more.

My initial response to this whole thing was "Aww man, i want to hurt these people! Aww, man!" I knew it happened for a reason (as i believe all things do). So tonight before i went to bed I asked my roomate if I could use her phone to try calling my phone. So she did and I did. And....someone with a really scraggly voice answered who spoke in brief sentences. I immediately said "Please give me my wallet and phone back"
"I don't have your wallet, i bought your phone for $30" - sketchy voice, he continued "i'll give it back for $30"
Me - "Why in the world would i pay $30 for MY phone, i want it back, who did you buy it from? tell them i want my wallet back"
Sketchy guy - "I'm not gonna snitch! You're not a punk and i'm not a cheat. Meet me at the Fred Meyer's off River Road and i'll get you your phone back"
Me - "What?!?!?! I'm not gonna buy my..."
Kathy - "Say yes. At least you won't have to buy another phone and you'll have all your numbers."
Me to myself "Hmmm...you're very right. And being peaceful about it is a good thing to do"
Kathy - "Let's go."
Me - "Right on."

So we arrived at the Fred Meyer's after Kathy spotted me $30 from an ATM. And then called the guy who said that he was actually at the Albertson's across the street. So we went over there. I got out and proceeded to where the coke machines were and the sketchy guy standeth. I ask if i just called him and begins to say.

"Come over here...CANCEL YOUR CARDS and give me fourty dollars and i'll give you your phone."

Me- "No! I already cancelled my cards and all i have is $30."
Sketchy guy - "Ok."

I now have my phone.

Me - "If you see the guy you bought the phone from tell him that I would really like my IDs back."
Sketchy guy, really drunk acutally "Cancel your shit man, i know these people, they ruin people's credit"
Me - "I believe you."
SG - "If you take me down to Washington-Jefferson Park I can get you your stuff back, cause i think you're and okay guy. These are my group of people that have your things."
Me - "I'm kindof scared when you said that they will mess me up." (eventually) "OK."

So he gets in my car and off we go to the park where Kathy and I wait in the car while he (donny) goes to bicker with his friends to try to get my stuff back. He jets off on a bicycle and returns after a few minutes with a beer in hand. "I have to call him because he's not here." He calls him and no answer. So...we take him back to Fred Meyer and he says to me that he will get me my "shit" because he knows what it's like to lose your stuff. He told us stories of how his girlfriend doesn't let him sleep at home anymore and that his nephew just died in a house fire. Rough life.

So, I gave him my number which used to be his number which used to be my number. And so I hope to hear from him tomorrow. I have his girlfriend's number. So things are looking up. I could care less about the $30 and the cash that i had in my wallet.

I learned, though, that being peaceful and honest with people works. My first intention was to lay the smack down, when in reality i probably would have never gotten anywhere with that. But now look at me, i gots my phone back and maybe my ID.

Who am i kidding? I was really luck to get my phone back and would be infinitely lucky to get my ID. I shall keep ya'll posted.

Thanks for reading!