"URGENT!!" the Junk-mail-looking subject made the tiniest impression in between the tens of messages I had just received in my inbox. Today was Norma's day off; Lauren's day with the kids, and my day to work at Ivon's office. Ivon and I were engaged in an energized discussion while watching a highly moving online video on the power of visualizations (on her mirrored monitor no less...what can I say, we are geeks.)

 

WHAT?! The message was from Lauren!

 

I clicked on the email message to read its content. It took an infinity for my laptop to bring up the content; the world paused in my head, except for the now-annoying background noise and distraction of the online video. Where is the *#)# Pause Button?

 

I got my purse stolen at the mall.Have enough money to taxi home but no keys -- meet me there. Write back to this account immediately. I will wait for your response.

 

The day was going so well -- the kids and I were having lots of fun playing at the nicest indoor arcade/amusement park/museum we've ever been to. Then in a nanosecond it was over.  My heart sunk into my stomach as I realized my purse was gone. I knew immediately that it was stolen. In addition to the cash, I had both the boy's passports and mine in it, our favorite tiny camera, my jacket, cell phone and house keys. What did I have left? Just a card that paid for the arcade games -- thank God. I cold redeem the balance, send a message from McDoland’s web kiosk to Farshad, and get a taxi home.