Theft Discovery...

I hired a lady to help me around the house in November. Actually, I'd hired her in October, and she came on Nov 7th. I did all the due diligence, checked references, and had an interview with her. She seemed the most qualified and most used to working under the conditions I have here. Occasional help for seniors.

Well, the month goes by, I'd been thinking about having the gal back, but hadn't called her yet.

About this time, I got my hair cut for a photo shoot so I could have a nice photo for the back of my book. You know how folks like to see a picture of the author on the back of the book, right? Well, the salon had some earrings in a case on sale, and I got a pair that would match a ring I had.

I got home and looked for the ring. It was no where to be found. I turned the place upside down, checked all my purses, all over my dresser, all the jewelery boxes. It just was not there.

Ok. So, I figured out right away what had happened, and was deciding if I needed to do anything or if God could take the ring. It was gaudy, and I hardly ever wore it. I was doing pretty well at blessing her and leaving the hurt and anger aside.

Well, Friday last week, I was thinking about some other rings. My pearl and my amethyst rings, in particular. The pearl ring was in pot metal, but the pearl itself was worth quite a lot. The amethyst was more sentimental than valuable. It marked my first year sober, and was a gift from my then-sponsor. So, I came home and looked for them. They were gone, too. And the wedding ring of my set - the engagement ring is still here.

So, now I feel violated and pretty angry. I tried for three hours to let God take the pain, humiliation, and feeling of violation away. The answer kept coming back to report the woman and press charges. So, I drove over to do that, yesterday, and because it was Sunday, they were closed.

I printed out the canceled check, and the response to the ad I'd placed with her phone number. I still have to call the police. Once they take the report, I can file a claim with the insurance company.

You know, one ring wasn't so bad. I could live with that, even if it was the heaviest in gold. It was from my mother, but I still have the garnet earrings. I wear earrings a lot more often than rings.

But she took all of the pieces. If she had stolen my drugs, I would have been angry and never given it another thought. But the rings were part of me. That pearl was the only thing I had left from my favorite ex-husband.

I'll never see the jewelery again. I'm sure it's been melted down and taken apart. The check was cashed in Middleboro, KY, so I'm sure she's long gone,too. It's just the formalities, now.

You just can't trust people, I guess.