Thanksgiving Weekend with a Twist

Korrin B.

December 3, 2008 - 12:00 AM

Thanksgiving weekend is a time to express gratitude for the many things that put together the wonderful world that we live in. Family, friends, food, warmth, laughter, and sunny days are among a long list of what people have to be thankful for. I drove home to Arcata, California for the Thanksgiving weekend to be with my friends and family. I took my friend from school with me. She is from Hawaii, so she would have had a long way to travel. I looked forward to the relaxation of being home. However, I found out that a lot could happen in a weekend.

It was Saturday and I decided to take my friend from school to one of my favorite places to go hiking. One of the things I like most about being home is its endless natural beauty. I grew up on the coast, surrounded by ancient redwood forests. I know all of the perfect spots to go outdoors. I took my friend to a place called College Cove. It is a nice stroll through a forest that sits atop a hillside that drops into the ocean. As I said though, I know all of the perfect places to go, so we definitely weren't just going to be staying on the trail.

My friend, Michelle, my faithful canine companion, Scooby, and I all showed up to the parking area of College Cove. It was a gorgeous day. The sky was blue, the temperature was perfect, and I couldn't get enough of the fresh air. There were quite a few other people there as well, all embracing the beauty of the day. I locked my purse in my trunk where it wouldn't be visible and we set off on our adventure.

After we followed the trail for a while, I led Michelle and my dog off the path and through some overgrown bushes and grasses, then under some trees and vines. After going through a dimly lit tunnel of overgrown vegetation, we resurfaced into the shinning world on the side of a cliff that glides into the roaring Pacific. I knew of a blowhole that was down at the bottom of the rocky hillside that I wanted to show my friend.

We finally hiked our way down to where the large rock leveled off and formed a platform out into the sea. It was high tide and the blowhole was in full effect. We shared laughs as the blowhole would surprise us and spray us with salty ocean water. I couldn't help but just stand there and look at the beauty around me. I've always told people that the ocean is like my church. Every time I see it I feel a certain peace.

However, after my friend got splashed from top to bottom by an unexpected wave and was therefore drenched, we decided that it was time to hike back. We got back to the parking lot and I was completely floating on a cloud of bliss. What could be better than spending a day by the ocean with a great friend and a faithful hound?

I opened my trunk to get my purse, but it wasn't there. I could've sworn I put it in my trunk, but I figured I had just forgotten. "Your window," said my friend. I couldn't believe I had left my window unrolled! Wait, I didn't. I turned around the corner of my car and as I looked at shattered glass on the ground, the pieces of the puzzle connected in my head. My purse was gone, as was my window. An amazing day had been stomped on by one lowly act. My iPod, my phone, my wallet, my identity - taken.

Instead of stopping at another beach on the way home, we just kept driving. I spent the rest of the day on the phone and at the bank, trying to piece everything back together and make sure that I was secure. I was stressed because I had to leave the next day back to Eugene, so I couldn't stay to have my car window fixed or wait until places like the DMV were open so I could get a new driver's license. I sat for a long time trying to think of everything that was in my purse, every credit card, every identification card. I couldn't believe how much stuff I carried around with me! At least my social security card wasn't in there.

It was awful. I felt as though someone had completely violated me. They had invaded my life for about fifteen dollars in cash and an iPod they could pawn off for a few more. To them it was a little more money, but to me it was an incredible hassle. I kept wondering how someone could do something so wrong. Do people not have a genuine concern for one another anymore? With so many people around, why had no one seen what was happening and stopped it? Why me? Why now? The questions kept swirling about in my head.

Then, the most disturbing fact of all hit me and sunk in my stomach like a rock. The person who had broken into my car hadn't even unlocked any of my doors. They hadn't gone through my car at all. The only thing they had done was pushed the button to pop my trunk and then taken off with my purse. Therefore, they had to have been watching me. Wherever they were waiting, they were watching my every move. They saw me share laughs with my friend and put a leash on my excited dog. They saw me smiling and looking around at the beautiful day as I placed my purse in my trunk. They had a face to the person they were about to rip off. They had small slice of my story right in front of their eyes and they still did it. They did an awful thing to a victim they had a face for. This upset me the most. I sank into a pit of bitterness, wondering what was wrong with the world.

However, it was, in fact, Thanksgiving weekend. Thanksgiving is a time to have gratitude for what is around you. My bitterness didn't last very long because while all of this was happening, I did look around me and what I saw is enough to pull anyone out of a cave of sadness or anger.
I saw my friend, Michelle, who is one of the best people to talk to ever. She's such a unique person and always thinks of others. Her hug while all of this was happening was just what I needed. I feel blessed to have met her my freshman year. I saw my mom who called me many times that day to check up on me because she can, unlike anyone else in the world, tell when I'm just putting on my "it's ok" face when actually I just really want to cry about it. She will always be there for me and love me. I can't imagine life without her. I saw my brother who has become increasingly important to me as we have both grown older. We understand a lot about where we are both at. I can talk to him about the hideousness of humanity, existential angst, or a ridiculously funny rap lyric and he gets it. I needed that conversation on this particular day. I saw my dad who immediately started helping me piece everything back together. My dad, who I know loves me more than anything in the world, which is why he was so quick to take care of me.

I looked around me and saw all of these faces and thought of many more in my life. So, I got my purse stolen. In the end, I would give away a thousand purses to be able to live a thousand years surrounded by the people I love. I hope that whoever stole my purse can someday find happiness in what is around them and not have to search for it in others' belongings. This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for the people whose love creates the foundation of my life. Happy Turkey Day everyone!