I had such a busy day at work yesterday. Had a filing for one attorney, a bunch of revisions of another attorney, and a secretary near me was out, so I had her attorney as well. I was still planning on meeting my sister for lunch for our walk, but as it got closer to leave, too many deadlines and I had to bow out. I got caught up at 1:45 and thought “should I really go to lunch this late?” It was so nice out though, so I decided to head to the River Walk and walk for 45 minutes before coming back and heating up my lunch.
I had my cell phone in my pocket the whole time. My step-son Joe and I have a thing about having stuff in our hands when we are walking – we typically don’t like it. I was at State and Wacker, waiting for the light to change, when I pulled it out to see if I could walk a few more blocks before heading back to work.
All of a sudden, I felt a tug of my earphones, and realized a kid on a bike, who looked to be about 14, grabbed the phone straight out of my hand. It took me all of a couple seconds to figure out what was going on, and then I ran after him!
You see, I was getting to the point where my blood sugar was dropping – it was late in the day for lunch, and I was fucking hangry. Like MAD! I started yelling “that asshole kid stole my phone!” all the while I was literally five feet running behind him and he was on his bike. He kept looking back at me like “shit – she might catch me!” I may be almost 50, but I am still pretty fast. I had it perfectly mapped out – I was going to knock him off his bike, grab my phone, and sit on him and call 911. Yep, in those two blocks I ran after him, that was my plan!
What foiled me? My shoes! I was wearing slip on Mary Jane’s that had a strap across my feet, but one started to give way, and I stopped for a second, and contemplated just leaving my shoes on the ground where I was, but then he got away.
I ran for three blocks. A near 50 year old woman running after a kid on a bike, and no one did a thing. No one asked “what happend?” or “do you want to use my phone?” I got looks, of course, but no help. Thanks Chicago.
When I got back to work I was REALLY mad, and called Verizon immediately to disable the phone, then tried to call Apple because I couldn’t remember my Apple ID, and kept getting Indian people who couldn’t spell my last name and I was at my desk yelling “V E L A T I N I!!!!!” I am sure my boss thought I was insane, and after I calmed down a bit, he came to my desk and said “do you want to take the rest of the day off?!” Ha, nope.
It was then that I realized it’s just a phone. I wasn’t stabbed or shot for it. I wasn’t hurt. Yes, I had to pay $199 (with insurance!) to get a new phone that will be shipped to my office today, but the whole thing just made me mad. It’s just as the day went on, and especially on the train ride home, how much my phone has become like an extra hand to me. I thought, oh well, at least I have my laptop for the hour ride home! Um, no you don’t – because your phone is your hot spot.
And as I had all the time in the world to kill on the train ride home last night, I also realized that since I started working downtown with my Mom at the tender age of 16, all the years I’ve traveled on the L and the Metra, and walked all over the city, this is the first bad thing that comes to mind that has ever happened to me, so for that, I am grateful.
I am very proud of myself though. It was all I could do not to just buy a tiny box of wine for the train ride home (yes, alcohol is allowed on the trains!) and a bag of Flaming Hot Cheetos, but I’ve got goals. I got home at 7:05 and found a Max Insanity on YouTube and did that for 30 minutes. I wasn’t hungry for dinner yet since I didn’t eat my lunch until nearly 3:30, so I went to the gym. I finished the day with nearly 24,00o steps. So I didn’t let something that was out of my control, let me get myself out of control with wine and food.
So yesterday was a win! I hopefully will be back to regular Instagramming and Programming on the blog tomorrow – you really will need to make these Greek turkey meatballs I had for lunch yesterday – so good!
Has anything like that ever happened to you?!
I get so mad if I hear stories like this: stay off people’s belongings. Sadly it happens more and more. And the ignorance of people and not helping out disturbs me even more. But also sadly that happens more and more, also here in the Netherlands.
So sorry! Love your great attitude!!?
Thanks Trudy! It’s all good – I am alive, and that’s all that matters š
So funny because I have followed your blog (from Saskatchewan Canada!) for a LONG time but never commented. I was reading this post and said out loud to my 12 year old son ‘Oh no, my friend’s phone was stolen today!’ So like it or not we are friends! Haha!
Hello Andrea from Saskatchewan! And we are friends, even though we haven’t “met.” Thanks for being a follower for a LONG time! Hugs!
So glad you’re ok! Not glad of anyone else that just let that kid keep riding -he must have passed someone that could have knocked him off the bike for you to sit on him! I was thinking that maybe they steal phones just hoping they’ll have access long enough to get personal information – much more valuable than the phone itself. Who knows -it’s worth a shot and they have nothing better to do š You have a good perspective, though, you made it all these years without incident; and even now, you’re safe and sound and prepared for anything!! (Always wear good RUNNING shoes when you’re out for a walk on the mean streets of Chicago š
That’s just the thing, I have my fingerprint to unlock the phone and I was able to disable and erase everything off of it within 10 minutes of it being stolen.
And yes, always running shoes while walking!
Wow! That’s awful. I’m so glad you weren’t hurt. Hopefully you’ll get your new phone quickly.
Thanks Katherine – I got it by lunch the next day! And I don’t have it out when I walk to and from the train station anymore – I can wait to listen to music until I get on the train.
So Sorry you went through that Biz. I hate when kids don’t think about the act and just hurt people! Once while walking with a bag of groceries in my left arm a kid came up fast behind me (on foot) and went for my purse. Luckily I had my thumb in the little metal ring so when he grabbed the purse, he literally had me attached to it. Ha! I told him to run fast little Mofo, he was not getting it this time. Groceries all over the sidewalk but I had my purse!
Ugh so sorry that happened to you Jan! Since it’s happened to me I’ve realized how many people just walk in a bubble with headphones one – walking against the lights because they are looking down at their phones – I was just as guilty of doing the same thing!
That blows.
Fucking asshole kids.
Couldn’t have said it better myself Marcia! p.s. LOVED the professional pics you had done of your family! #nickkillsme š
Perspective!
That whole thing sucks. But you are right about how lucky you are!
Thanks Carrie – I didn’t even think of “what if” until I was at my desk – he could have had a knife or a gun, so I am lucky!
I so wish you had better shoes that day and were able to at least get close enough to shove his bike and make him fall, maybe him breaking an arm as he hit the ground. Maybe that might have made him re-think stealing stuff from people.
But so glad you didn’t get hurt. And WOW! way to kill it on the steps! You put my daily total to shame. I admire your commitment, since I surely would have gone for wine on the train and definitely not do the exercise at home. “but I’ve got goals”……I think this was meant for me to hear. I had been doing well on WW, down almost 30 pounds, but the last few weeks I have been off the rails and eating anything and everything, especially sugary things…..my downfall. So I thank you for this, “but I’ve got goals” needs to be my mantra to help me regain control starting today.
Glad I could reinspire you Kathy! That was me the months of March and April – I got blue dots for the first 72 days of the year, then my birthday came around and I suddenly went off the rails.
My sister and I have our goal to hit goal by our 50th birthday, which is in March of next year, so I have to keep my eye on the goal! (now I just have to get my sister on board – she’s 30 pounds behind me) š
So sorry this happened to you! I hope karma gets that little punk.
And, I think it’s HORRIBLE that you still have to pay $199 for a phone even though it was insured (but thank goodness you had the insurance).
Do you know how much it would have cost for me if I didn’t have insurance? $800! #insane
I believe in karma too!
I’m picturing you running, mad as hell, after that little fucker and it pleases me. I so wish you had caught and sat on him. However, you are right. In the scheme of things, this is first world problems. And then you didn’t even let it get you off track. Rock. Star.
I have to laugh at myself now, but I really did picture the whole thing in my head of me sitting on him – wonder if anyone would have helped me then?! š
Boy, for you to almost catch the kid on a bike, that is amazing. Working in a big city you are fortunate this is the first time for this kind of thing. I am so glad you were not hurt. It’s great the way you handled this and didn’t resort to food or wine . Life happens and you dealt with it well.
Thanks Lynn – I was pretty proud of myself too! But in the back of my head I could hear Tony’s voice saying “it’s just a phone – let it go!”
You are a winner!!!!! And so inspiring!!!!! Thank You
Thanks Georgette! Hugs!
So sorry about your phone. I am impressed that you chased after that kid like that though!
Thanks Em! I surprised the little fucker with being so fast! (well, for a few blocks!)
My daughter’s car window was smashed (in a parking garage no less) and they stole her backpack with her laptop. She’s in graphic design and what hurt the most was alot of her artwork was on the laptop. She managed to replace some of it, but not all. It wasn’t even a great laptop. I’m sure they got nothing for it. Probably dumped it soon after.
Gah, that’s awful. My only saving grace was that I downloaded all my pics on my computer (but still save some – okay a few thousand!) for some reason. It’s weird to see that I only have 15 pictures on my phone now!
I would have been mad enough to chase the punk, too – fuckers. Sorry, but I hate thieves. Glad you weren’t hurt, and I’m glad you’re getting a replacement phone, but dammit, that is such an irritating thing to happen.
That’s the perfect word for it Shelley – “irritating.” But then I had a friend from high school post on Facebook that her cancer is back, aggressively, and she’s worried about leaving her teenage kids behind (she’s divorced) and suddenly it didn’t matter anymore.
I really LOVE that you almost caught him! I’ll bet he was so shocked to see you behind him. What a little jerk ?
I had my purse stolen in Vegas once, way back in 1980. It happened so fast I didn’t even realize it. But it taught me a lesson.
LOL @your brother š
I was so close too – damn shoes! š
Yes, I’m with Charlie. I would loved the image of you sitting on him and can only imagine the words that would spew out along with the evil glare š So, happy to hear you are okay. Hopefully you took care of your blood sugar right away. I could get on a soap box on this subject as it infuriates me how frequently this type of thing happens in today’s society. It also makes me angry as I hear on a regular basis from people how “they saw him punch her” or saw suspicious activity but didn’t want to get involved etc.”No one wants to work for their own things anymore. It is just easier to take it from someone else who has worked hard for it. Sadly, when they do get caught they don’t have any real remorse and will do it again. Okay, I’m done.
I hear you Kim – I will never understand it, but if I would have caught that kid and sat on him, I would have given him my two cents worth of advice!
So sorry! I had my purse stolen from my car parked in my driveway- I always lock it but think maybe the clicker didn’t click??- and my aunt had her wallet taken out of her purse at WalMart. It really makes a person mad but here’s what I did. I actually prayed (and still do occasionally) for the person(s) who took my purse that they did not become hardened criminals. The police figured it was kids trying to open all doors of parked cars.
That’s awful Nan! But I have to say, for as long as I’ve worked downtown, I’ve been pretty lucky this far. But I am way more aware of my surroundings (just like my Dad used to tell me when I was younger!)
Same thing happened to Sarah while waiting for a train. Just sitting there, tapping away, and swipe some guy just snatches it and runs. I don’t get it either, as stolen iPhones are next to worthless once locked.
Man, I so wish you could’ve caught him. Not to get your phone back but just the image of you sitting on him until help arrived. š
Now THAT would have been a great blog post! I’d for sure have asked someone to take pictures of that š