It's all relative

[theoldwolf]

Today I had the privilege of interviewing Brooke McEldowney, author of 9 Chickweed Lane and Pibgorn at ComicCon 2009 in New York. It was a wonderful experience. In the course of the interview, a very brazen thief managed to walk off with my computer bag, which was sitting right next to us. Fortunately, the computer itself, and all my other camera equipment, were not in the bag.

Yes, I felt violated. Yes, it's inconvenient. Yes, it will cost me a bit to replace the material items, and the sketches that were in the book are, for the most part, irreplaceable. And, it didn't take me long to put things into perspective.

So let's take stock:

1 Computer bag. Value: $99.00
3 Books. Value: about $60.00
1 HP Laptop Charger. Value: About $80.00
1 Treo connection cord. Value: About $50.00
1 Sketchbook. Value: $7.95
A few other odds and ends. Value: $10.00
Having a home to return to, where all my life resides: Priceless.



When I think of the torment being endured by so many in Australia whose lives have been destroyed or shattered by the terrible wildfires going on there right now, my pitiful loss pales in comparison.

The folks who saw my bag as an opportunity will feel smart and clever for a few minutes, hock my stuff for probably $10.00 at the max, and carry a burden of guilt around with them for a lifetime. Poor trade, if you ask me.

Now, off to visit a cousin and then look forward to a wonderful dinner with friends. I'm blessed beyond measure, and far beyond my deserts.

[EDIT: For the happy ending to this story, see here

Comments

[r-caton.livejournal.com]

You've got the right perspective, friend....
how was the great man?

[ccdesan.livejournal.com]

See the next entry for the miraculous ending to the story. As for the great man - and his really charmng daughter - he's just what you said: Great. An amazing person. Seemed as out of place in the convention as a bar of soap in a coal scuttle - he's so stratospherically above the phanboy syndrome that he sort of wandered around like a lost puppy with glazed eyes. But he did say the con was useful for him as he formulated some future projects in his mind.

[fearciuil.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear you got your property back--one of my colleagues had her teacher bag stolen a couple of years ago; she figured it was because it would hold a lot of loot.

Your thieves were less enterprising, perhaps. Thankfully.

[ccdesan.livejournal.com]

Very grateful indeed. It was miraculous.

[secoh.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear you had your bag nicked! I know the feeling, sadly the person that liberated me of mine also took the laptop that was in it and my xbox and all my games, from out of my house :( Some years back now though.

Yeah, the fires are horrendous, the death toll is rising rapidly :(

[alaskawolf.livejournal.com]

it is soo sad to see and read about all the devastating destruction and pain caused about the fires :(

thieves suck x(

[ccdesan.livejournal.com]

See my next post for the happy ending!

[marmoe.livejournal.com]

I'm still sorry, that you lost part of your belongings, especially the one you can not buy, the sketch book.

What's happening in Australia right now is simply horrible. :(

[secoh.livejournal.com]

We're a resilient and irrepressible bunch though! The flood victims in Queensland are donating to the fire victims fund in Victoria.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/10/2487237.htm

[ccdesan.livejournal.com]

Oi! Oi! Oi!

Still, some things can never be restored. I hope those affected can rebuild their lives quickly.

[marmoe.livejournal.com]

Wow! That's a kind of people to be proud of. :)

[ccdesan.livejournal.com]

Danke - Gott sei dank, wie du siehst in meinem naechsten Schreiben, habe ich mein Eigentum wiedergefunden - wirklich ein Wunder!