Punished?

Have you ever just felt like you were being punished for something but you didn’t know what?  You know, the days where you get a flat tire when you are already late or when you receive bad news just after looking at a dwindling bank account.  Something to that effect?

Well, a little over a year ago I wrote about quite the adventurous situtation that caught me and some friends a bit off guard to say the least.  Sure it was so ridiculous that it was hilarious to recall but as we were trying to replace phones and keys and our security so to speak we felt a little like someone was knocking us down for no reason.  A reality check perhaps?  But what for?  There were not one, not two, but three parts to that story.

You won’t believe it, but that mysterious “knocker downer” (very creative I know) struck again.  This morning while “doing her body good” and running around White Rock Lake (doesn’t seem like something that deserves punishment to me) my sweet friend who survived our first criminal encounter was chosen again by crime. AGAIN!  Here is the thing.  After our first police chase we thought that this didn’t actually happen to people.  On COPS sure, but not to us. And twice? (Here is where I should mention that her roommate was car jacked this past fall as well.)

She is a church going woman.  She is a loyal friend.  She is a devoted sister, daughter and aunt.  She is giving.  She is hilarious.  She is decent. She is a teacher for crying out loud!

What in that description deserves punishment? ( I promise I didn’t leave out something like “Oh yeah and she sells drugs on Tuesdays.”) Looking forward to 2011 a new year with a new start, she returned to her car from running to find some cops waiting for her.  If that isn’t a bad sign I don’t know what is.  Shattered window.  Among the list of the stolen items to add to the mess of the shattered window…Driver’s License, Credit Cards, Classroom Keys, $140 in Cash, 4 Day Old I-Phone, New TOMS, Jeans, Kindle, All the Gift Cards Given to Her As Gifts from Students, Her Aggie Ring…

See a long distance runner (she completed her 3rd White Rock Marathon this year – Whoop !)can’t run with all that strapped to her back and don’t we all leave bags in our cars from a recent trip sometimes?  I know I know, at least no one was hurt and yes it all can be replaced.  But with what finances?  And who is going to replace the sense of security that has been lost yet again?  The eery thing is that just this weekend she found the police report from our experience last year while going through things.  Just this past weekend!

I mean, we don’t live in the ghetto people, come on!  No I wouldn’t wish this on anyone, but surely there is someone else out there more deserving right?  (Maybe the person who really does sell drugs on Tuesdays perhaps?)

So, I ask you this.  What would you do, give or say to a friend who was robbed/vandalized for the second time in two years? Someone who feels as though they are being punished for a mystery sin?

 Surely you have some advice because sometimes my “Positive Polly” phrases just seem to sound even worse. How much can “At least the year has to go up?” can help?  I’m more likely to say…well, that’s shitty.

See…I need your assistance.