The day started off to be a good day. Sunshine. Warm temps. Blooming trees.
As I drove to my doctor's office a bit of anxiety caught in my throat, so my prayer held extra intensity. Lord, my times are in your hands. Please watch over me and our family. Keep me calm whatever he says and keep me safe, I pray.
Good lab test results sent me floating out of the office, my mind shouting Thank you, Lord!
Next I headed to a nearby big-box store, grabbed a cart and as usual, deposited my handbag in the kid-carrier.
I meandered through the store, then headed toward Checkout. That's when my heart stopped. My purse was not in the cart!
You can imagine my thoughts
My inner critic scolded: Idiot! You've heard the warnings from police. You know better.
I hightailed it to the Service Desk. Had anyone turned in a purse? No.
I recited my tale to the nice young man from Security. He took off to do a store walk-through. Rather than stand and wait, I walked through the store, too, but found nothing.
Back to the Service Desk to wait.
Security Guy returns. He found nothing. Calls his boss, who tells him to come view security camera footage.
I wait some more, leaning against a counter.
Security Guy finally returns and reports they saw nothing unusual or questionable on camera footage.
Well, it's just a purse, Ma'am. Yes, but . . .
What did I have in my handbag?
- Billfold
- Driver's License
- I.D.
- Bank debit cards
- Credit cards
- Cell phone
- Auto key fob
- Auto club membership card
- House key
- My business cards
Put another way, my handbag held my "life." When I had it.
As I mentally ticked off all the agencies I'd have to try to connect with my head started to pound.
What next?
Store personnel were kind. Could they call someone for me? Sure, except now that I have a smartphone I never have to remember a phone number, so I don't.
One daughter lives near me, but she kept her Midwest cell phone number through two moves and has no land line phone here. Forget looking up her number.
By then it was past noon and I hadn't eaten since early morning. No wonder I felt like I couldn't concentrate.
Thank God for a happy ending
Just then Security Guy came around the corner, holding out a black purse. Was it mine?
Yes! Where did he find it?
Answer, "I walked the store again and looked closer. Something didn't look quite right, so I investigated. I found a black purse wedged behind a display. I don't know how your bag could have flipped out of the cart because the strap isn't long enough to catch on anything. Please, Ma'am, check to be sure you have everything."
I did. Thank you, Lord!
Later I checked the cart and found no cracks big enough for my bag to slide through. How did it get on the floor behind a display? I'll never know.
The lesson to learn--for each of us
How could I make sure this didn't happen again? Here's my plan. (Feel free to borrow anything useful.)
- Never, never, never deposit a handbag or billfold or cellphone in a shopping cart.
- For women, only carry a cross-body bag or a waist bag--and don't lay it down.
- Carry a list of essential phone numbers plus a bit of cash, separate from your bag.
- OR carry cellphone, cash and key fob in a waist bag.
One friend suggested putting the list in a plastic bag and sticking it behind one's bra. Or in a sock or a pocket.
Another suggested using a small travel money pouch. They're easily available, they're flat and inconspicuous and can be worn underneath clothing.
For me, the point is to always have access to what I need to stay in touch with loved ones, be able to drive and unlock my front door.
It's up to me to be prepared. If not me, then who?
Was this a time God stopped watching over me?
I don't think so because He keeps His promises.
The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. -Psalm 121:18
Besides, I didn't lose my "life" for good and I didn't have to call all those contact numbers to get licenses and cards reissued, nor have my locks changed.
I experienced a couple of trying hours, but my loss was temporary.
Was God teaching me through all this? Probably. (Doesn't He always?)
I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with my eye on you. -Psalm 32:8
Did this experience have a point? Yes. Loud and unmistakable: I need to be watchful--not paranoid, just watchful.
Make no mistake
I was humbled that day and embarrassed, but I don't consider it a waste. If nothing else, I can pass it on as a caution to others. People like you.
Perhaps you, too, have heard official warnings a million times and you didn't listen, either.
Maybe it's time.
Still learning, obviously,
Lenore
