I will not let them kill my spirit. I will not! I’ve always considered myself to be a positive person and someone who not only avoids drama and mean spiritedness but tries to always see the good in others. Given situations, while cautious, I usually give people the benefit of the doubt. I have HOPE and faith that people are good (for the most part) and will do the right thing.

So, I’m saddened not only as a mother and teacher but as a human being because of the direction that society is taking. I won’t let today’s situation make me cynical but I do have the right to feel disappointed just the same….

Kelsea informed me this morning that she had not seen her LG VX9900 Envy cell phone since last night. While it’s not an iPhone, it certainly isn’t a cheapy no- nonsense phone either. We spent the day searching high and low, retracing her steps and tearing the house and car apart. She headed back to CVS, the last place that she had it last night at 8:30pm. Not finding it, I called Verizon to shut off the service this afternoon.

Then.. I began to think about it. “What if someone finds the phone? They won’t be able to get in touch with us or receive calls to return it.” So, I called Verizon and (assuming responsibility for any charges incurred) had it turned back on for the night “just in case.”

Repeated calls to the phone went unanswered but were ringing in the evening rather than going directly to voice mail so I knew someone had turned the phone on. I decided to send a text to her phone. Thus began a series of texts while I sat on the hill at Patriots Training Camp.

  • Me: I need the phone back please.
  • “how much are yu willing to pay for this phone back”
  • Me: This phone will do you no good when I shut it off so please do the right thing and return it no questions asked.
  • “ill smash it then it really doesnt matter to me maybe yu shuld watch where yu put things i found thiss shit”
  • Me: You should just do the right thing. It is useless to you because it will be deactivated and reported as stolen.
  • Me: you still could do the right thing. Your conscience, not mine.
  • “do yu kno where seekonk middle school is”
  • Me: i can find it
  • “well how much you willin to pay first”
  • Me: Sorry, deactivating now.
  • “yur lost not mine.”
  • Me: that’s what insurance is for.
  • “ya i suppose. but you can get your phoone and evceryuthin wit it for 40 bills 10 less than vcerzion”
  • “and she gets all her music ringtones contacts pics videos”

At which time I called and deactivated the phone. There is no way that I was going to be strong-armed by this person. Yes, the insurance cost is $50 for the replacement but I would pay double that rather than give that scum a dime. So, instead of doing the right thing, and likely getting some green from me for returning the “found” phone, they’ve got a beautiful piece of useless equipment on their hands that they either smashed in frustration or will try to pawn off on someone else. (I’m hoping that the battery dies very soon so access to her address book, pictures, videos, etc will be gone–unless they spring for a charger)

I’m sad about this, not because of the money but because I had faith… faith that there are still good people in the world. Faith that someone finding the phone would do exactly what I would do without even batting an eyelash. Faith that when it comes right down to it, kids can and will have empathy for others and that the rude, disrespectful behavior and attitudes that I see in school on a daily basis are more the exception rather than the rule.

Guess I was wrong in this case but I’m still not willing to give up on people and will continue to be the best person that I can be, hoping that it just may rub off on others. Either way, I can sleep soundly at night, knowing that I’ve raised my children and have taught my students to be Good People, to do what’s right and have empathy for others along the way. How about you?

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kjcardoza on August 9th, 2007 | File Under Ramblings | -