my son the hero

I missed making a post for Camden's birthday, which was almost a month ago.  He turned six.  We had a minimally ninja themed party (ninja cupcake toppers and a homemade ninja pinata) at my parents' house.  It was fun!  Why am I bringing up his birthday now?  Partially because of something he did yesterday, and partially because of something he did in late August/early September.

I'll start with what he did a while ago.

We were walking into Walmart to do our grocery shopping, and he saw a poster for The Lorax, the movie. He wanted to know what it was... So I told him the gist of the plot... A person is cutting down trees and the lorax is trying to save them... And at some point in this, I mentioned that it is kind of telling about the Amazon rain forest.

Camden looked at me, and he got a little teary-eyed.  "I want to help the rain forest," he told me.  I told him there are places we can donate money, and they will use that money to help protect the rain forest.  He then said "I want to do that for my birthday!"  So this year (one of) my birthday present(s) to him was a $25 donation to the World Land Trust.  I tried to find an inexpensive jaguar or other rain forest animal to attach a card telling him about the donation and what it is going to, but couldn't find an animal and figured that since he isn't reading yet, it wouldn't make quite the same impression.

Last Tuesday was the first day he could check out a book from the school's library, and I'm sure you can imagine what his first choice was... The Lorax!  Astonishingly, we hadn't picked it up at the public library in this time.  Nor had we ever read it.  (He did watch the movie with my mom, though, shortly after our conversation at Walmart.)  So we read it that night.  And the next.  And the next.  Every night.

Monday, he took it back to school so he could check out a new book on Tuesday.  We got home on Tuesday, and I remembered it was library day so I asked him excitedly what book he checked out.  I opened his backpack and pulled out... The Lorax.  My kid is a riot.  :)

Anyway.  He seems to enjoy this book greatly, and it reminds him of the Amazon rain forest, which desperately needs some help.  I'm going to buy him this book for Yule, and use it as a log for donations that he makes or donations made in his name to the rain forest.

It's my hope that he remains an advocate for the rain forest, and for wild lands everywhere.  It is my hope that in the future, he will read The Lorax to his own kids and inspire them to champion their own causes.

thievery

It was a good morning, despite waking up earlier than I wanted.  I got me and Cam dressed.  I made his lunch.  I helped him play some computer games.  I fixed us breakfast.  We almost had a meltdown about Camden wearing a coat, but then we agreed that he could wear his (lightly padded for warmth) rain jacket.  Got him out to the car with his backpack, homework, and lunchbox.  Buckled him in.  Opened the front seat..

And my wallet is laying out of my purse, with my driver's license next to it.

Huh?

My glove boxes are both wide open with all my papers thrown everywhere.

What?!

Our iPod is gone.

Fuck.

Last night Camden wanted to play outside, so I unlocked the car to get my hoodie out of the back.  Aaaannnnd.... I forgot to lock it.

Thankfully, the bleepity bleep(s) who broke in only took my iPod.  I didn't have any cash, and they didn't find my debit card.  I thought I had a book of checks stolen, but remembered when I was in at the bank that I had brought my checkbook into the house last week.

I went to the police department and filed a report.  I went to the bank to get a new check card (just in case).  I've locked my car.  I've hexed the person who stole it, may they be in a state of agony every time they lay eyes on what is mine!

I never thought this would happen... But people never do, do they?  I live in a small town.  I know of several people who never lock their car.  I lock mine every night.  Every night!  Except for this one time that I forgot.  How cruel.

It isn't even the loss of the iPod that gets me riled up... Just the thought that someone, ANYONE, could so violate another person's property like this.  My protection spells on my car have always been against physical damage: crashes and broken windows and the like.  Why would I think to protect it against someone just... opening the door?

I am on edge and slightly stressed out.  And frustrated.  And angry.  I was panicked before I went to the bank, but after I realised they didn't get any of my financial information, the panic subsided.

Even if, somehow, I get my iPod back (not likely, however much I curse them)... How can I get back the feeling of security?  The feeling of peace?  What was someone doing lurking in the freaking dark around my house (which is in a private-ish area)?  Are they looking in my windows, too?  Did they try my door?  They looked at my license.  Do they know my name?  Will they come back?

Why didn't they take the charger, too?