So today I walked out to my car, rushing to work as usual, and noticed all of the contents of my glove box were scattered across the passenger seat of my '09 Toyota Yaris. I was confused, but assumed my glove box latch broke and everything spilled out. I was mostly embarrassed to see old tanning lotions and air fresheners laying around, but scrambled to put it back together. Upon starting my car, I realized my "jams" were not playing out of my radio via my iPod per the usual. I was excited to hear Eric Church "Creepin" or the new Luke Bryan song as I got ready to run off to a remote location for work today, but instead silence was emitted through the speakers. I heard nothing. That's when it hit me...my glove box was completely in tact and I was robbed.
I glanced down to notice that the wires of my center console were pulled up and my auxiliary cord had nothing attached. Even my iPod case was gone! But wait! There was not a chance I could have been robbed. I pay my taxes, I donate to charity, I volunteer my time. Why would I be the victim of a crime?! Tears filled my eyes as I realized none of that matters and innocent people can be victims of various crimes.
Turns out my husband's car and a neighbor's car were broken into as well with various items missing. It wasn't until I was about 40 minutes into my commute to work that I realized all of my silver change and my "car sunglasses" were also stolen. So for those of you keeping score I'm down a vintage iPod, about $1.65 in silver coin, and a pair of Ralph Lauren's.
What really is tearing me up is this iPod. My iPod is from 2007 and is literally about a 3rd generation Nano. I know there are first graders younger than my iPod and it may come as a mystery why I am more upset about this product missing than my $130 sunglasses. My vintage little iPod was a gift from my husband for our 3rd Christmas while we were dating in college. He got me the Product Red version knowing how important charity is to me, and had the back engraved with lyrics to a Jack Johnson song. My iPod was named "Little Sherwood" and did not have any of those fancy features such as a touch screen or various apps. In fact, I think I was still surprised every time I turned it on to see a color screen. I appreciated the simplicity of my old iPod in a time when everyone needs the newest and most advanced products I take pride in using my products until they literally break down and stop working. Sure "Little Sherwood" would sometimes freeze and maybe even repeat a track without my instruction, but it had character. See the person who stole "Little Sherwood" will likely sell it at the flea market on Saturday or to the local pawn shop and make about $20, but to me this item is worth so much more.
"Little Sherwood" accompanied me on many long walks around the NYU campus and on N,R,W line headed to several shifts at work. I listened to the first Taylor Swift cd on "Little Sherwood" and relished in the "Guess that Tune" game that came standard with this generation Nano while riding the train home on winter break. I used that iPod to practice my routines for my NY Jets Flight Crew auditions, and on the elliptical while getting in the best shape of my life to prep for it. John Mayer serenaded me in a Starbuck's as I reviewed my never ending notes for Cognition exams. When I bought my Yaris (my very first car!) "Little Sherwood" found a new home cozied between the armrest and driver seat. She lived here for 4 years until she was savagely ripped from her home in the late hours of the night. I hope she will live on and perhaps become some other kid's best friend while strolling city streets. I am not certain that they will necessarily appreciate the fact that "Little Sherwood" houses playlists titled "Wedding Songs", "Legally Blonde", "Heck Yes It's Christmas", and "Songs for October" but hey hopefully they appreciate the bargain of a fully loaded iPod complete with 6 years of great memories.
