This week didn't start so great for me, but I'm not gonna let it hold me back.
Monday:
The highlight of my week was going to a Marina and the Diamonds concert (more on that later) but unfortunately, while I was making my way up to my friend's house from the Berkeley BART station, I was phone snatched.
Snatched. Out of my hands. He hid slightly behind a bush/tree and as I walked by, my phone in hand, he said, "Excuse me." I stopped for a second, looked at him, and BAM, his hands were on my hands, holding onto my phone, and he was attempting to climb into a car (whose door had been open and waiting). Instead of screaming for help or trying to hurt him (as some friends suggested after), my immediate reaction was to try to grab for it back. It had to be a mistake! No way was someone robbing me! And somewhere deep inside, the adrenaline was running and I had a single objective: Get the phone back. And it was when he was in the passenger's seat and I was halfway in the car and the door was open and the car was moving, when I realized: "WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING?"
No phone is worth my life. No material possession is worth my life. And so I let go.
Fortunately, I was unharmed (I found some scratches on my arm the next day, but no big deal). He didn't punch me, push me, break my rib, or worst, drag me up the street alongside his car.
I was literally a block from my friend's apartment.
One single block. A few more meters and I would have been there.
I had been keeping my phone in my purse the whole time for fear of being targeted... on the bus... on the BART... and on the way up. But, something about being in the Berkeley campus space (and all those safe and warm memories), made me forget. How ironic that I decided to whip it out... and that's when I was snatched. I spent a couple of very frustrating days being upset -- I mean, the phone is just a material possession and I don't have any hopes that it will be returned -- but still, I was very upset. I felt victimized and targeted. Some people may not understand or even sympathize, but I do feel that it was a traumatic experience. Yes, I made a careless mistake and I had become too complacent. But, that doesn't make me any less of a victim.
My friends were quite eager to share with me that I had become famous, haha. Feel free to read: http://www.dailycal.org/2013/05/08/strong-arm-robbery-reported-at-dana-street-and-durant-avenue/
In any case, hopefully, some good can come of this. I hope that hearing from my personal experience helps you stay vigilant and cautious. Please try not to use your smartphone to text or call or watch videos or listen to music or even have it in your hands in public spaces. There are not-so-good folks out there and sometimes, it's really just a matter of "Wrong place, wrong time." What happened to me, happened in broad daylight, around noon, and there were other people around. There are folks out there searching for easy targets and quick money, so please, be careful. And remember, no material possession is worth your life.
*******
In other news, I attended the Marina and the Diamonds concert later on Monday evening, and had a fabulous time. Yes, it would have been more enjoyable if I had not been upset and distracted, but even still... what a fabulous singer. She's got a very specific look and audience, and man, I am glad I was able to attend. I forgot that her signature was a heart on your cheek, so I missed my chance to dress up, but oh wells. I wish I had more to say... I will leave you with a video of one of my favorite songs by her:
*******
To be honest, I have spent a couple days moping, but I have found inspiration in different places. I wanted to share, so please check the following out the following pieces:
1) Seema Jilani's "My Racist Encounter at the White House Correspondents' Dinner"
From her well-written and deeply personal account of racism, some of my favorite lines:
Monday:
The highlight of my week was going to a Marina and the Diamonds concert (more on that later) but unfortunately, while I was making my way up to my friend's house from the Berkeley BART station, I was phone snatched.
Snatched. Out of my hands. He hid slightly behind a bush/tree and as I walked by, my phone in hand, he said, "Excuse me." I stopped for a second, looked at him, and BAM, his hands were on my hands, holding onto my phone, and he was attempting to climb into a car (whose door had been open and waiting). Instead of screaming for help or trying to hurt him (as some friends suggested after), my immediate reaction was to try to grab for it back. It had to be a mistake! No way was someone robbing me! And somewhere deep inside, the adrenaline was running and I had a single objective: Get the phone back. And it was when he was in the passenger's seat and I was halfway in the car and the door was open and the car was moving, when I realized: "WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING?"
No phone is worth my life. No material possession is worth my life. And so I let go.
Fortunately, I was unharmed (I found some scratches on my arm the next day, but no big deal). He didn't punch me, push me, break my rib, or worst, drag me up the street alongside his car.
I was literally a block from my friend's apartment.
One single block. A few more meters and I would have been there.
I had been keeping my phone in my purse the whole time for fear of being targeted... on the bus... on the BART... and on the way up. But, something about being in the Berkeley campus space (and all those safe and warm memories), made me forget. How ironic that I decided to whip it out... and that's when I was snatched. I spent a couple of very frustrating days being upset -- I mean, the phone is just a material possession and I don't have any hopes that it will be returned -- but still, I was very upset. I felt victimized and targeted. Some people may not understand or even sympathize, but I do feel that it was a traumatic experience. Yes, I made a careless mistake and I had become too complacent. But, that doesn't make me any less of a victim.
My friends were quite eager to share with me that I had become famous, haha. Feel free to read: http://www.dailycal.org/2013/05/08/strong-arm-robbery-reported-at-dana-street-and-durant-avenue/
In any case, hopefully, some good can come of this. I hope that hearing from my personal experience helps you stay vigilant and cautious. Please try not to use your smartphone to text or call or watch videos or listen to music or even have it in your hands in public spaces. There are not-so-good folks out there and sometimes, it's really just a matter of "Wrong place, wrong time." What happened to me, happened in broad daylight, around noon, and there were other people around. There are folks out there searching for easy targets and quick money, so please, be careful. And remember, no material possession is worth your life.
*******
In other news, I attended the Marina and the Diamonds concert later on Monday evening, and had a fabulous time. Yes, it would have been more enjoyable if I had not been upset and distracted, but even still... what a fabulous singer. She's got a very specific look and audience, and man, I am glad I was able to attend. I forgot that her signature was a heart on your cheek, so I missed my chance to dress up, but oh wells. I wish I had more to say... I will leave you with a video of one of my favorite songs by her:
*******
To be honest, I have spent a couple days moping, but I have found inspiration in different places. I wanted to share, so please check the following out the following pieces:
1) Seema Jilani's "My Racist Encounter at the White House Correspondents' Dinner"
From her well-written and deeply personal account of racism, some of my favorite lines:
"Let's stop this facade that we are a beacon of tolerance. I don't need you to "tolerate" me. I don't want you to merely put up with my presence. All I ask, all I have ever asked, is to be treated as a human being, that bigoted jingoism is not injected into every minute facet my life, that there remains at least the illusion of decency.
It's not my job to plead with you to shake my hand without cringing, nor am I going to applaud you when you treat me with common decency; it's not an accomplishment. It's simply the right thing to do."
-Seema Jilani
2) Neil Gaiman's address to the University of Arts Class of 2012
He gives his 6 tips and my favorite part begins at 14:07. But it's all very good, so have a quick look :)
"Be wise, because the world needs more wisdom, and if you cannot be wise, pretend to be someone who is wise, and then just behave like they would. And now go, and make interesting mistakes, make amazing mistakes, make glorious and fantastic mistakes. Break rules. Leave the world more interesting for your being here. Make good art."
-Neil Gaiman
Enjoy the rest of your week and have a good weekend! Go give someone a hug! Share the love :)
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