My good deeds go un-noticed **EDIT**OMG IT's BACK!!!...

[Medusa]

Your anger and disappointment is certainly understandable but don't lose hope; someone may return your purse w/the belongings yet. When I moved back to OH from AZ, I was so scattered that when I was offloading my luggage from the cart into my son's waiting car, neither of us noticed that I left my brief case there. It was full of all my important papers, my passport, my phone book w/all my pertinent contacts and a credit card w/a rather high limit and no balance. I was panic stricken. I, of course, called the airport and reported it, not expecting anything positive but I got a call later that my brief case had been turned in intact. There are other people like you and me out there, even if at times like this it seems not. We'll send up prayers that your things will be returned to you. It's unfortunate that this has happened but don't allow yourself to become cynical. Things like this happen to all of us at one time or another. Keep your integrity, and by all means, keep the faythe. Things can be replaced.

[finn's mom]

Don't give up. Have a momentary lapse if you must, but don't give up completely. Good deeds change the world, even if you never personally see the results. That person you returned a pair of glasses to or a purse or whatever it might be...I'm sure it changed their day for the better. They were probably kinder to their families, even if just for a few moments, and I'm sure they shared their story with people. I can't help but think at least a few smiles were born because you did what you were born to do, which is be a good person.

Did you ever see "You've Got Mail"? Sweet little movie, but for some reason...I am just remembering one of their online conversations where she is talking about how she never can think of anything witty (and mean) to say until after the situation passes...and he's talking about how he always knows exactly the rude thing to say at exactly the right time...but he always feels remorse afterwards.

My two cents...don't steal the sign.

[lizbud]

Oh Leslie, I am so sorry.

I almost never carry a purse anymore because they just seem to be a
crime magnet. I only carry cash & cards I need in my pockets. Had a purse
stolen from my car once (when I foolishly stuck it under the front seat).
I got a call from a lady about 3-4 days later saying she had found the purse
in her yard & everything but the money was still inside. Actually her dog was
the one to find it in her back yard. It had little teeth marks on it but it was
o.k. otherwise.

Honestly, they could have had the money, but I would have hated to lose
my children's pictures that were in it.To top it off, the lady wouldn't even
take the money I offered her for calling me after finding it. There are still
good people out there & I hope someone proves it to you too.

[moosmom]

Leslie,

I know what you're going through. I was lucky that my wallet was returned. Unfortunately, the only thing they took was $100 I had in it for food. They mailed it back to me anonymously and it was all beat up. I think I may have dropped it on the side of the highway on the way to PA at Christmas.

You'll be in my prayers, girl.

[pomtzu]

Your good deeds ARE noticed - by the only one that really matters. One day you will be rewarded for them!

[*LabLoverKEB*]

Oh, Leslie! I'm so sorry this happened to you, you do not deserve this... You will deffinetly be in my prayers!

[Pam]

I'm sorry if this offends anyone, but tomorrow I'm stealing a McCain sign in my neighborhood.

Leslie, two wrongs have never made a right and they never will. Retaliation is not the answer. If everyone who was ever wronged retaliated it would be a world unfit to live in. I for one wouldn't want to live in a world full of people with that mindset and I don't believe you do either in your heart.

Actually my first thought about the Obama sign was that the person who took it was someone too lazy to go out and get their own. I never thought it could be a McCain person not wanting Obama to be advertised on your lawn (as if there isn't enough advertising for both sides going on via the TV and radio).

Please just take a couple of deep breaths and don't bring yourself down to the level of a few nasty people. They are to be pitied.

[Cincy'sMom]

I had a friend that was a waiter through college. After working his butt off for a particular table, they left him a 25 cent tip. He wasn't rude about it, but told them if that was all they could afford, they needed the quarter worse then he did. While it was done somewhat facetiously I have tried to use that when people do steal things...I figure they must have needed it much worse then I did and hope that they enjoyed it.

(For example, I made my BIL a blanket for Christmas. The package was stolen off his front porch and he never got it. I was upset, but I hope who ever stole it needed that blanket and that it kept them warm this past winter).

[popcornbird]

I came on PT after a LONG time today, and just feel the need to respond to this post.

Leslie, honesty is a beautiful quality, and you are honored to have that in you. Don't ever let go of it.

You may think it goes unnoticed, but that is not true at all. Let's look at things with a different perspective.

When people have lost things, and you found them and returned it to them, I guarantee those people will be praying for you and sending well wishes your way for as long as they live. Those people who were touched by your honesty will never forget it. I know because many years ago, my brother lost his wallet. That very same day, a man called, and told us he found the wallet and wanted to come over to return it. He did just that, and returned the wallet in exactly the same condition in which he found it. Though we never saw him again, and never heard from him again, we never forgot him, and always remember him as the good honest man who went out of his way to return my brother's wallet. Honesty makes a difference in this world, and you make a difference to everyone your honesty touches. That difference you make goes a long way.

Secondly, the thief, while you may think got your purse and is now enjoying it, really hasn't earned anything good. What he (or she) has earned is hate, mistrust, enemity of a kind person, the anger of God, and a guilt, that even if he/she will not admit, a guilt that will bug him/her for the rest of their life. That is not something I would ever like to earn!

Don't change your ways. Don't think, "Because my purse was stolen, and my sign was stolen, I will now go about stealing other peoples' signs!"

My husband's bike was stolen several months back. It never occured to us that just because someone brought harm to us, we should bring harm to others.

If you can find the culprit who did this, then by all means, bring that person to account. Inform the police and let them handle it. You should not make innocent people pay the price for someone else stealing your stuff though. Chances are, the person you intend to steal the sign from never harmed anyone else, and is as innocent as you. If you steal, you might only earn the anger and hate of another innocent person. The cycle should not continue. Quinn has a good mom, and I know she would want her mom to stay good...forever.

Most of all, don't forget that God created us all, and He's watching over everything everyone does. He knows who stole your purse, and if people don't bring that person to account in this world, God will. If you remain honest, God will reward you one day, but if you turn to the ways of the one who harmed you, you end up risking losing that too.

Just my two cents.

[Husky_mom]

I´m so sorry.. and I know how you feel.... loosing your stuff.. by someone stealing them or by someones idiocity is just plain disgusting and frustrating...

I had my computer formatted with all my kids first year pics in it.. no back up at all... can´t bring back time for that.. and all because the guy knew squat about what he was doing...

we also had a stolen video cam forma water park.. we had went several times on several years but this time they stole our vid right beneath our noses... we just looked to the other side for a minute and BAM it was gone.. so we had to re-enact the whole vacation... but it really sucked...

our car keys were stolen too... luckily not the car but still...


I really hope the people who stole your purse, rethinks it and returns it... a purse can come and go but your personal stuff and your pics are priceless... and besides there are no good to them ... the money is mostly as good as gone and can be replaced... maybe not right now in what your situtation is but the other things that have sentimental value are irreplaceable...

if you need help and have paypal lemme know...I´m not rich either but we can always help out when needed...

[M&M's Mommy]

*Hugs*.

I'm sorry it happened to you. I'll pray that your purse get returned. In the mean times, please call all the credit report agencies to flag your credit and cancel all charge cards. Call the police to report the incident so that you'll have proof in case your identity also got stolen.

Please don't loose hope in humanity. There are as many good people out there who're trying to do good, honest things like you've always been doing as the bad ones, if not more. Please don't switch side!

[Pembroke_Corgi]

I'm so sorry that this happened to you. Plenty of (((hugs))) going out to you. I think you handled it remarkably well...since I have become pregnant, I cry at the littlest things and something like this would have sent me over the edge!

I can honestly understand how you feel, as I too have felt the same way many times. Why bother when no one else does? The answer is that because by doing good for others you are doing good for yourself, too. It is easier, and maybe in someways satisfying to be a selfish person, but I don't think those people can honestly feel good about themselves after some personal introspection.

The world needs more people like you- even though you are frustrated and upset by others, at least you are thinking about it. Some people probably go through life without thinking and they continue to cause pain to others.

It sounds like you are a wonderful person, and I hope that things look up for you from here on out.

[Sevaede]

Oh no.. I can understand how that would be disheartening! I lost my wallet (fell out of my sweater) at a movie theatre and didn't realize it until I was already home. I went back and the manager had it, nothing missing, thankfully. I am very grateful to the nice person that turned it in.

Don't let a few bad seeds get you down. They are not worth investing the unhappiness. What goes around will come around for sure.

[Kfamr]

One of my favorite quotes, I think it could apply here.

"Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it."
-Gandhi

[jennielynn1970]

Leslie, honesty is a beautiful quality, and you are honored to have that in you. Don't ever let go of it.


Honesty makes a difference in this world, and you make a difference to everyone your honesty touches. That difference you make goes a long way.

Don't change your ways. Don't think, "Because my purse was stolen, and my sign was stolen, I will now go about stealing other peoples' signs!"

My husband's bike was stolen several months back. It never occured to us that just because someone brought harm to us, we should bring harm to others.

If you can find the culprit who did this, then by all means, bring that person to account. Inform the police and let them handle it. You should not make innocent people pay the price for someone else stealing your stuff though. Chances are, the person you intend to steal the sign from never harmed anyone else, and is as innocent as you. If you steal, you might only earn the anger and hate of another innocent person. The cycle should not continue. Quinn has a good mom, and I know she would want her mom to stay good...forever.


Just my two cents.

Couldn't agree more, and couldn't put it any better.

Hope your purse (and everything in it) gets returned.