It’s a Wonderful Life
Posted By startswithanx on July 18, 2010
Jake’s heard his fiancee talk a lot about what she DOESN’T have lately. About the money she doesn’t make, the neighborhood she doesn’t come home to and the lifestyle she doesn’t live. He’s had to build a case for what we DO have. How unfair is that? Having to tell the woman you’re going to marry why she SHOULD BE HAPPY with the lfe she has. Nevertheless, he continued to tell me, time after time, all the reasons I should stop chasing something I don’t have and start appreciating everything I do.
Why it all sunk in the morning of July 16 — before I got the frantic phone call at work – I will never know.
Jake was with Penny at the vet’s. He wasn’t thrilled I scheduled the appointment on the one day of the week he normally sleeps in (he works nights on Fridays), but he only complained three times. I got a late start that morning. It wasn’t until around 9:30 a.m. that I pulled out of the garage, a good half-hour later than normal. In retrospect, I wish I remembered more than just feeling really good as I watched the garage door slide down. I never drive away until it closes completely and Friday morning was no different, except this time I looked over more than just the garage. Paying no mind to the cars that may or may not be pulling up behind me or the strange people that may or may not be on the sidewalk beside me, I sat in my car and took in the whole house.
Upside down or right side up, it’s dope. I love it. I love the man who owns it with me and I love the little doggie who greets me when I walk through the doors of it. Jake could finally rest his case. It’s a wonderful life I live, that I knew for sure Friday morning. I buckled my seat belt, turned the volume up real loud and drove away as I thought of my many blessings. As soon as I get to work, I said to myself, I’m gonna send Jake a text telling him as much.
Not surprisingly, I never got a chance to send the text, but I told him all that and more as four cops drew their guns less than an hour later and made their way into our house while Jake and I watched from across the street.
When he came home from the vet with Penny, about 30 minutes after I had left, the place was ransacked. THIRTY MINUTES AFTER I HAD LEFT. His 42″ flat screen TV was gone, the plantation shutters above our living room sofa were busted through and the front door was open. He yelled all of that into the phone, first to me and then to a 911 operator.
After the cops searched the house and didn’t find anyone, we went in for a walk-through. Our bedroom made me feel like we were standing in a snow globe – after someone gave it a good, hard shake. Clothes, shoes, bedding and underwear replaced the snow flakes. And all in 30 minutes. It took four metro cops, the real CSI and a cadet who wrote it all down about four times longer to finish our report than it took the burglars to take everything pawn shop-worthy that we own.
It doesn’t matter what they got away with. What matters is what they didn’t get. I’m not talking possessions or material items, either. Although my 11-year-old nephew “D” did note that “at least they couldn’t take the pool.”
Everyone keeps talking about how unfortunate it is and how unlucky we were. It’s funny, I’ve never felt more lucky in my life. Did I mention there were 30 minutes in between the time I left and the time Jake and Penny came home? I’m lucky I still have the love of my life. I’m lucky I still have my sweet dog. I’m lucky I still have my house, snow globe-style or not. And I’m lucky this was still the view I woke up to Saturday morning:

OMG, how frightening! So glad you’re okay. That shit can be replaced. Jake, Penny, and you, however, cannot.
How scary… Just think karma will pay that A-hole back…I hope he dropped that TV on his foot.
I’m glad that you guys are all okay.
Holy shit, dude. I’m sorry that happened, but it sounds like you’ve got the right idea about it. It’s not about the things you have, it’s about who you’re with and the life you have around it all.
I hope they catch the bastards.
X is right about what the thieves didn’t get away with. We were lucky we weren’t home when it happened. I probably missed them by minutes when I walked into my house.This story could have been a lot worse, tragic even. However, that being said, a little innocence was stolen away from X and I along with the thousands of dollars worth of vaulables taken. My home might never be the same again. The peace of mind is just not there for me right now. Needless to say we’re going to take precautions. Hopefully, police did a good enough job with their investigation that the culprits will be brought to justice.
Glad you guys are OK and looking at this from a positive viewpoint. It sucks this happened, and I can’t even imagine how violated you guys feel. X, you’re a brave woman to trust Jake with the responsibility of bringing your baby to the Vet….good for you! And Jake, good for you being able to handle the responsibility
All seriousness, glad you guys are OK, and best of luck with the insurance company and the cops. We’re thinking of you guys, glad you’re safe and well, and wishing for a bright outcome from all of this.
i have not been able to stop thinking of you three. i am also so thankfull for what they did not take away from you and us-your family. i only wished we lived closer so we could comfort you in some way. but know that we are all thinking of you and counting our blessings…that you guys are safe. love you guys!
OMG! I’m SO glad you two are ok. Let us know if either of you need anything!!! So glad you, Jake and Penny are safe!!! I hope they catch the rat bastards!
Jake is probably thanking his lucky stars that your familia doesn’t live closer because all of us would have been there all weekend long. Then he’d live in fear that the cops would be called for distupring the peace with our big loud mouths.
No I do wish we were closer it would have been nice to be able to hug the both of you after that ordeal. We are all very grateful that all of you are safe. Love you muchos!!
Praise the Lord that you guys were not home. You know that vet appointment was necessary to get Jake and Penny out of the house. This I feel was heaven sent, not an accident -the vet appointment. Did you get my long text Sunday – I could not stop thinking about you guys during the entire church service Sunday. Material things can be replaced. You guys are certainly taking the right attitude regarding this and I applaud you. Muchos besitos and abrazos departe de tu Papa y Mama a los tres!
oh my goodness! How frightening! SO GLAD all three of you are safe!
i am so glad all three of u are safe! that is the most important thing. now it is time to get an alarm-for reals!
btw-that is the sweetest pic ever-miss penny all squished up close to jake.
Yikes! I echo the sentiments expressed above … so glad you all are safe. Things can be replaced.
In these very troubled economic times I am afraid that people will become increasingly desperate. I think it makes our world much more scary.
Eeeeek. That is so not cool. Thank God for good timing.
Holy crap Batman! So glad that you all are ok. How was Penny’s vet appointment? Of course I had to be the one to ask!
Oh and please warn a sista before posting a nude pic of Levi Johnston. *shudder*
Wow. You are lucky. Glad you guys are OK. xoxo
OMG! I’m glad you’re okay. And you’re right. It’s happened to me before and all I could think is that it could have been WAAAYYY worse! (Although, I still hate that some asshole broke in and stole all my shit, nahmean?) At least everyone is ok
Ditto on what Clair says. Everything happens for a reason so glad everyone is ok!
Wowza! My college roommate was home alone one time when a man broke into our apartment. He thought no one was home so he was scared away, but it’s frightening no matter who is or isn’t home and what is or isn’t taken.
So happy you guys are safe! (But it sure sucks to have your house ransacked and your stuff stolen. I’m predicting very bad juju for the folks who did it.)
HOLY CRAP!!!!
I am so glad you guys are ok. I can’t imagine (nor do I ever want to know) how that feels. Love you!
Oh my goodness!
I am so so relieved to hear that the three of you are okay. 30 minutes. That is nothing short of miraculous, thank god none of you were home.
That sucks that you guys were violated in such a way, but wow – you are so right – the important things are okay. I’m so glad you are able to see that, and I’m so glad that it is true.
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How terrifying. I’m glad everyone is OK. I hope nothing like that happens again. I am so sorry that happened.
I had my last college apartment broken into. Very scary. I was away for the weekend and came back to upturned stuff. You have my sympathy–and gladness that no one was taken from you.
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