Burgled

I'm not posting super frequently these days... which I'm fine with, really.  But I didn't really feel like I could let the events of last Thursday night go without mention.

In the last week of a sublet, the apartment I was renting was broken into. I came home to find the door wide open, apartment completely ransacked, all of my eletronics stolen, and steak knives scattered all over the place. Since it didn't smell like they cooked dinner, we have to assume they had the knives in case anyone came home early. Namely me. 

This is still a very new and raw thing for me, so I have to tread lightly here.  I feel less angry than I do hurt. Like this was a personal attack on me.  There are also waves of embarrassment, fear, loneliness, and relief that I never had to find out what the steak knives were for. I'm still working through all of those things and I would imagine that's gonna take a minute.  

However,  I really wanted to take the time to add to the library of advice if you should (god forbid) find yourself a victim of a similar crime and are doing some research.  Even if this hasn't happened to you, I am convinced my advice is just as valuable as renters insurance.  Here goes..

Make really good friends.
Be a good friend.

I may not have had insurance, but I had Ami who waited up until I finally arrived at her apartment at 4 am because there was no way I could sleep at home. And she researched car service numbers because my phone was dying. Then when I booked a car she came downstairs to pay for it because I forgot cash.  And before I got in the cab she reminded me to bring my charger so my phone wouldn't die.

On a fully charged phone the next morning, my older sister picked me up and moved me out in the middle of prepping for depositions and her 7 year old's birthday party.  I spent the car ride home calling detectives about police reports and Macmall for a new computer. Unable to let a moment of comedy pass by, my sister directed every single one of my calls into my other ear.  "Good, Sarah. Good!  Now less professional, and more sexy! Command their attention!"  With every, "Shut UP, idiot!" I hissed, I became more and more grateful that my brothers and sisters are also my best friends.

Once I had nailed my sexy, yet professional phone voice, I was able to call friends who responded immediately and just as appropriately.  Some were sensitive and open telling me their own robbery stories, of which there are far FAR too many in New York City.  Others like Danielle were both kind and funny, "I hope you're doing ok, but I thought you would want to see this" and attached a link to an embroidered Khal Drogo...my imaginary boyfriend from Game of Thrones.

And when I got my new computer less than 24 hours later- thanks to another tech'y friend who researched exactly what I needed when I requested a brief description that I could take to a store and say, "get me that!"-I found emails from new friends at my current gig which I completely ghosted from for two days. Not only did they hold the ship together, they found the time to email someone they have only known for a month to make sure I was ok.

Last but not least, I would like to thank Rachel Zoe.

After no sleep all night and telephone calls to clean up this mess all day, I finally crashed at my sister's place and watched a Rachel Zoe Project marathon.  If you have never seen the reality show about this LA stylist to the stars, she pretty much starts every single scene with a Starbucks in hand announcing to her assistants, "This... is a disaster."  Of course, it never is because sensitive assistant Brad cries and disgruntled Taylor gets furious and fixes everything.  It always, always works out and Anne Hathaway gets the gown she needs for the oscars just in time.

I couldn't skip the burglary here, because I would never skip Australia here... or the Cook Islands or The Cookie Games.  There are ups and downs, and that's how it goes.  Just be sure to spend a little time investing in some good friends. They'll help you take care of everything.

This sucks. Bad.
But it is not a disaster.