Ransacked

Tonight we had to make a quick trip to Springfield.  After taking care of our business we ran to the mall to eat and then go to Sears so Jay could spend some Christmas money.  Since it was a quick trip we took our umbrella stroller, which was our first mistake.  Camryn didn't even ride in it and it isn't big enough to hold all of our stuff.  When we sat down I hooked my purse on the back of the chair.  That was mistake #2.  I had one of those fleeting feelings of "this isn't going to end well" when I did it but I ignored it.  I really need to stop ignoring that feeling because I felt the same way about the chili the other night.

After we ate we went to Sears and everything was fine.  Jay found what he wanted and I bought a dress for Camryn.  It's never too early to add to her 2012 Holiday Collection, especially when they are 70% off.  We had congregated in the hallway between the photo place and the bathrooms to get situated.  That's when I realized I didn't have my purse.  I threw Camryn to Jay and told them to stay put.  I speed walked back to the food court and found a mall worker.  As soon as I said I left a purse she said "the silver one"?  I felt instant relief.  At least someone had my purse.  She said it was at mall security.  I headed there and the door was locked.  I knocked a couple of times.  I was working up a vision of me chasing down Paul Blart on their segways when one of the officers opened the door.

I said hello and told her I thought she had my purse.  She asked if I was Crystal.  When I told her yes she said "well I've got your purse but it looks like it's been ransacked...did you have a camera"?  "And it looks like someone has gone through your wallet...It's a mess....zippers open and stuff all messed up.

I can not tell you how embarrassing it was to say...Oh, yes I had an empty camera case in my purse(why, I don't know), so they didn't steal that....yeah, my wallet looks just like I left it....(as I sifted through the various receipts taking inventory of my debit card and credit card that are never in their proper slots) yeah, it looks like I've got everything. The officer said "really...that's a relief I was sure someone had gone through it".  Trying to make myself sound a little better I said "well, we have a baby and by the time we got everything together I just forgot my purse.  She just looked at me and said "yeah, I've got 5".  And I know in her mind she was thinking - and my wallet never looks like that.

About that time my phone rang.  It was Jay nervously waiting by the Sears bathroom.  Since I had drove he was hatching alternate plans on how we would get home in case we didn't recover the car keys.  He was very relieved when I answered.  I couldn't wait to tell him about my purse being "ransacked".  He thinks my purse looks like a traveling trash can and my wallet is embarrassing.  But I'm sure he and Cade have nothing to do with that...gum wrappers, toys, etc.  I told him that having it messy is probably a good tactic.  If it takes me awhile to find my debit card what about a thief?  If someone had opened my wallet they probably thought someone else had beat them to it and left it alone.  There are benefits to not being completely organized all the time...

And just FYI - I have tried to carry my wallet in the diaper bag but then I've left it there and got to work without my wallet.  That method is too risky....I may need to go to a fanny pack.