On my word -- divamum! I wish I could make you a cup of tea and let you put your feet up with a blanket tucked 'round, or walk around in tight circles to get the stress out.

I am so sorry this happened to you but am so grateful you weren't more seriously injured. Holy cow.

I'm thinking of you.

Divamum,
How gracious of you to think of us when you must be shaking in your boots. I'm glad you are all right, albeit bruised, scraped, scared and perhaps a bit angry. But it's hard to find a good pair of shoes...so I'm sorry they're gone.
It does put things in perspective when we are so obsessed about our kitchens:this assault reminds us of what is important. Take good care. Beverly.
Great reminder-I am complacent. good neighborhood..unlocked doors, etc.

Divamum,

Hope you're OK! My, how scary and upsetting that is! I am always a little bit on the paranoid side, so much so that DH sometimes makes fun_ but I am also insisting on motion sensor lights - mainly so I can see backing into our driveway in the dark- but the security part is really important too!

oh my goodness! I hope you're ok!

Install those lights and stay safe!

Oh my! That's so frightening. :-( I'm so glad that you're okay.

My DH said just last night that we need to switch to motion sensors on our outdoor lights (like we had in our previous home). You've just convinced me not to wait! We live in the dark countryside and seldom turn on the outdoor lights even when we take our greyhound out for her bedtime bathroom break.

Cameron

At least he will be easy to spot in a line up, the slip will be a dead give away. I am so sorry. Sounds like you're a real trooper. You are so lucky no serious injuries. We are in the country and my husband is so cautious, we have had motion sensor lights for 15 years. Hope your bruises heal and Santa brings you some new shoes.

What a terrible experience for you. The holiday season is all too alive and well, that's for sure.

I will think of you as I activate our new motion-sensitive flood lights (that our contractor recommended). They startle me every time I go outside, but your story is a scary reminder of why we need them.

Thank you for taking the time to share this with us--hugs and care are running through the ether to you!

I am glad you are ok, and would like to be a bug on the wall when the crook finds the slip,opera music and shoes! You may want to cruise the neighborhood, you may find your things abandoned on someone's lawn.
And seriously, thanks for the reminder. We have lived in a suburban area for more than 20 years, a safe family area, and it is tempting to forget our caution and let our guard down.
I will remind DD and DS especially.
Stay safe. Sue

WOW, I really hope you are OK!

I took a self defense class once and the instructor kept stressing to never hold onto your purse. Let them take it and get away. Even with identity theft you are better off safe.

And your driver's license should NEVER have your SS# on it.

I forgot to tell you that when I first started reading your post I thought it was going to have a punch line at the end - something about the thief being your GC!!

I hope you're okay. Take it easy for the next few days if you can. In my experience, the trauma hits you in waves and can return at unexpected moments. Best wishes. Hopefully you will have plenty of holiday distractions to help.

Oh! I'd really like to belt that creep for you (and then run like the dickens). I'm so glad he was unarmed and you are okay. What an awful thing to happen to you.

Thanks for the warning - it's sad, but we all need to be vigilant.

So sorry you had to go through that and thanks for warning the rest of us. I feel for you and hope your physical and mental bruises heal fast. I know it can be hard mentally as it can come back and hit you when you least expect it so take care of yourself.

Very glad to hear you're okay, Diva. Motion sensors sound sensible. During this season some years ago I had my shoulder bag snatched from a passing car in a crowded mall parking lot. There was an empty space just up ahead, so I didn't pay attention as a car pulled up slowly behind me.

Divamum- Thank heavens you're alright. That must have been scary. I think I would have held on to. Heck I would have chased him, screaming my fool head off as I went. I give DH nightmares sometimes with my ballsyness (or stupidity).

I live in the country, on a street of 13 houses and never lock my door, I keep my purse in the car most of the time. I would never survive down in the city - ack!

OMG--I am so glad you are okay! People are just nuts....

Diva, bless you for the alert. You will be fine and thank goodness you are fine! My best wishes are with you.

Holy cow, I'm so thankful you're okay! I agree with the poster that said to check around the neighborhoods, to see if you're stuff is pitched somewhere. You're right, the joke's on him.

We had motion detector lighting installed 12 years ago. My husband heard noises outside, picked up his rifle and went outside - scared two teenaged girls who had decided to TP (etc) our yard. Despite his leg in a cast, he "chased" them up the street and watched what house they went into. He came inside, got me out of bed and told me what happened. I dressed and together, the two of us went up the street (him on crutches!) to the house - I knew the mom, she was a Girl Scout mom. The parents answered the door, we explained why we were there, the girls were called down. The next day, the two girls came down to the house, cleaned the entire yard for us, and later on, brought us a plate of cookies in apology. One question I asked the girls, "Why did you pick on OUR house?" The one said, "It was the darkest outside." We got motion detector lights that year.

DonnaR/CA

Wow, I hope you are feeling ok. How timely. A woman in my town posted something online about how she was almost mugged at Walmart in Newington, NH. Middle of the day walking to her car she sees two guys walking in an odd way (I believe they were trying to head in her direction without making it look like they were). It's been cold here, but she said they were over dressed for the 30 degree weather with ski masks on. She managed to get to her car before them and immediately locked her doors as each appeared at a door. They took off when they saw her reach for her cell phone. She didn't even report it to the police. I admit I never worried about parking lots during the day.

I hope you are too bruised.

Thanks all. I spend a lot of time in NY and other big cities so I'm generally very careful and have traineed myself to have my street-smarts "radar" on even though we live in a suburban family area that's generally very safe. However, I had been on the road since early in the morning on Wednesday and was verrrrry tired, preoccupied with packages of presents I'd purchased on my way home and just generally distracted and I'd like to think that's why my awareness was low, but really - I think we just have to accept that you can NEVER be too careful.

But thanks again. I'm fine and, although the little one is somewhat traumatized, she seems to be feeling much calmer about it today too.

Hug your loved ones, take care and happy holidays to you all!

I was mugged a few years ago. Although I had expected this would be a traumatic experience, it really wasn't. I also refused to let go of my purse (idiot), and the guy punched me in the face and I bled quite a bit and later turned very purple. It happened so fast, I really didn't have time to be afraid. All I remember thinking is that his Mom would be really disappointed if she knew.

I say this because I think we live in a society that overemphasizes fear right now. I think we need to emphasize our ability to survive just as much as our fears. Our kids are suffering from the fear now.

Bad things do happen, but for me this one time event didn't change my life or leave me with more than a slight compulsion to look over my shoulder downtown. I can tell from Divamum's comments that she is a strong competent survivor too.