Are you the one who stole my identity?

Today I found out someone has stolen my identity. It is common of course in this digital age, until it happens to you.

There is something strange about hearing someone knows your birthdate, social security number, address...and more. Suddenly there is someone posing as me out there in the world. I can't get that information back. Will they file it away to use whenever times are tough and I have stopped being vigilant about checking my credit? Will they throw me away and move on to the next victim because now they know I am not going to give up without a fight? Will they get a curly blond wig so they can start to not only pose as me but look like me? Maybe they will come and break into my house and bake banana bread for my kids posing as their magnificent mother. Only then would my kids know my identity has indeed been taken from me.

The best part was filing the police report. They couldn't have been more disinterested. "Oh yes, miss, sounds terrifying. Someone opened a credit card in your name and charged $11,000? Horrible. Here is your case file number and have a nice day." You mean you aren't going to chase them down and use waterboarding techniques to have them confess all? What benefit is it to me having Trump in office if I can't use torture to my benefit?

I was wondering to myself this afternoon why May 1 ended on such a sour note and then a friend called and asked us to walk over and go swimming. Ok, this will cheer me up. On the way over we have to cross a busy street and as the crosswalk gives us the ok to go the teenage girl in the car coming towards us doesn't stop and instead steps on the gas. I scream to high heaven and my 8 year old jumps about 3 feet back and she comes to a screeching halt right in front of him. Whatever she was doing in that car...texting, singing to loud music, daydreaming she sure as hell wasn't paying any attention to the Mom with a 8 yr old and 5 yr old crossing the street. She is mouthing "I'm so so so so sorry"through the windshield. I wanted to mouth about 100 things and all I could think of was PAY ATTENTION.

In a way it was advice for me. A note had come in the mail for me earlier in the month alluding to something strange going on with a credit card but at the time I had been too busy to pay attention. I was focused on the kids, or our spring break trip or I just assumed it would resolve itself. It is time for all of us to slow down and pay attention to what matters. Maybe then the kids in the crosswalk will be safe and a mom's identity in the Bay Area will be found.