My countdown for RWA Nationals in Orlando FL is down to hours now. I’ll leave first thing in the morning, have dinner with my parents tomorrow afternoon, possibly see my sister-in-law and niece on Wednesday, and spend 5 days learning and socializing with some of the most incredible people on the planet. I find the people who I meet at conference are the nicest, most generous, and most creative people. I sincerely enjoy taking to them, hearing about their work and learning from them.
However, I did run into a major issue yesterday and considered compromising my principles for the sake of a purse. (Yes. I’m crazy.) To understand the whole story, I need to back up a year-and-a-half. The short story: My wallet was stolen out of my purse. Before I realized it was gone, the thieves had gone to Target and cleaned out my checking account. Horrible as that was, when I found out that they did it in multiple purchases, scanning the card repeatedly for $200-$300 at a time until a purchase was rejected and the salesperson never once asked to see an ID…I was infuriated.
Yes, they had my wallet. They would have been able to produce my drivers license but the clerk admitted he would have known immediately the woman using the card wasn’t me. The money was returned to my account in a few days (Federally insured and all) and in fact the police found the discarded cards and driver’s license later that night–I didn’t even have to stand in line at the DMV–but I still felt like it could have been avoided.
While giving my statement to the police officer of the store they used the card in, I asked that question. Why did no one ask for an ID? Their answer: It’s our policy not to because a lot of customers get irritated/offended when we do. My response: I haven’t shopped at Target since. Call it a peaceful protest, one that I know doesn’t mean a thing to them, but something I’ve stood by for eighteen months.
Fast forward to yesterday. When I fly I like to carry a large purse so that I can tuck in a lot of extra stuff (Use it like a second carry on). I do have a lovely one, that I’ve used at the last two national conferences, but it’s black. As is my new computer bag. And I like purple. And I felt like I needed a splash of color. So, while taking breaks from the editing I found myself searching for “large purse, purple”. And a very stylish one came up. On sale for $12. In stock at my local Traget store.
I wrestled with my little conflict for two days. I posed the question at dinner last night and received mixed responses. My daughter wants me to not compromise my principles and my son and husband think I should hold the criminals responsible not the store. Son jokingly added “Nothing is ever accomplished by peaceful protest anyway.”
Still conflicted, I asked my hair stylist and my nail tech what they thought (They’re sisters by the way.) Stylist offered to take the $12 and go buy the bag so I could have both. Nail tech couldn’t make a decision. In the end…I’ll be carrying a large (yet still pretty) black bag — but my fingers and toes are a splashy purple.
Just can’t compromise on principles.
So — in order to try and break up my stress level, I’m adding a Family Guy clip. The little speech Stewie gives Brian over his novel. And yes, son teases me with it occasionally…cause that’s just the kind of guy he is.
Stewie Harasses Brian About His Novel:
