Well, as if getting up to face work on Monday morning isn't bad enough, I approached my car this particular Monday morning and saw that someone had been in it while it was parked on the street overnight. To my great sadness, I found my discman missing.
For those of you that don't know, I don't keep anything of monetary value in my car and I typically don't even lock it. In fact, I KNOW there is nothing of monetary value in it because just about a month ago, someone stole the one thing that was worth anything (my change holder in the driver's side door with about $2.50 in it) and left everything else. "Everything else" is, in no particular order, a couple of cassette tapes, a couple of mix CD's, two store-bought CD's and my 10-year old panasonic discman. My discman debatably having the greatest resale value but, honestly, it looks like it's been through a war and it skips pretty easily.
That being said, it has far more sentimental value than a lot of things I use on a daily basis.
It was, up to that point, the most expensive thing I ever bought with my own money ($120).
It also happened to be the first thing I bought with my own money at Circuit City (for those of you that don't know, I would go on to work at Circuit City for about three years and buy MANY things there).
It had been to the shore with me every year since I bought it (which was my sophomore year in highschool if I remember correctly). It had basically provided the soundtrack to my beach visits for about a decade and because music and the beach both mean so much to me, it's tough waking up one morning to see that someone has simply taken them from me.
I'm not so angry as I am sad. I'm trying to not be mad because I might do something I'll regret. Don't get me wrong, I'm pissed off ... but I'm trying to move on. I rode to work in silence (without the radio on which is now the only form of music I have) in a show of respect for a great little discman who performed above the call of duty for longer than I ever imagined it would.
This thief didn't know that some old, beat-up discman meant so much to me. I don't care. I still want his / her head. I just became "tough" on crime.
Posted by languorous at August 22, 2005 09:22 AMThat posting made me sad. I am offering to stake out the street one night and look for the theif. Just let me know when.
Posted by: Karen at August 22, 2005 11:55 AMMan, that is fucked up.
People have no respect at all. This city is pathetic. I know I may offend some who Allentown, and its a shame, because my grandmother, my parents, and I all attended Allentown schools. We have lived here forever. But it has truly become a dirty, tainted area. I do not even wish to live in the west end because it will only be a few years and the "Element" will take over there too. Fuck these people with no values and no respect for anyone else in the world. Tom, if you want me to run over a few of them with my Avalanche, Ill even throw in some extra weight in the back.
Posted by: Jon at August 22, 2005 01:23 PMSucks that some thug is jammin' to your mixes.
All you have to do is listen for the minority down the block that is pumping Rusted Root from his creamsicle-orange, lowrider Accord.
Posted by: Robb at August 23, 2005 04:24 PMThanks for the offer, Karen. I'm trying not to think about it ... it makes me angry ... to borrow words from the Incredible Hulk ... you don't want to see me when I'm angry.
Posted by: languorous at August 23, 2005 05:21 PMDAMN, that sucks. That being said, I think people are getting a bit overreactive here. Someone opened your (unlocked, right?) car and took your discman. This is a serious issue, I don't want to downplay it. But to completely shit all over Allentown's name because of it seems like a bit of overreaction.
That being said, I haven't lived there in years, so I'm kind of lacking context.
Crime happens. In a case like this, I'd think that I'd be much more pissed off at the invasion of property/personal space than the loss of the object itself. Time to join a Neighborhood Watch/buy and iPod? :)
Posted by: Jason at August 24, 2005 06:29 AMSays the guy who lives in the gigantic crime-ridden metropolis. ;-)
Posted by: Gar at August 24, 2005 06:16 PMI have to agree with Jason. I am happy that your car is still there, and that you are alive and well. CD players come and go. At least he had a good run.
Posted by: Lori at August 25, 2005 04:49 PM"Crime happens." So deep, so insightful, such a waste of blog space and a reader's time.
For those of you that have left Allentown behind ... it's sad to watch it decay. Sure, I could say it's refreshing seeing it change in new and exciting directions but, considering Allentown has just tied its record high in homicides for a year, I'm leaning towards sad.
Posted by: languorous at August 25, 2005 07:45 PM