Its my anniversary!

Four years ago today, I was robbed at gunpoint, my gorgeous ring I had received for my birthday just 7 weeks earlier--platinum, emeralds and diamonds--was stolen, as well as the cash from the register where I was manager on duty.

The robbery itself was surreal. I was working at a store that sold surgical scrubs. Surgical Scrubs! The guy came in, and was engaging and funny. He told me he had some more shopping to do, (the strip mall where we were located had a Target and Walmart, as well as a lot of small shops), but he worked at a hospital and his wife a nursing home, so he would be back.

About an hour later, he was there again. I approached him and said, "Well, I see you made it back!"

As silly as it sounds, he sounded on the up and up. Hospitals use specific colors, and often the floors use specific colors or patterns. He was talking about the accepted colors and so on. He had made a decision, and asked if there was an ATM close by. As it just so happens, there is one right across the parking lot.

When he showed up shortly thereafter, I was expecting him, and even joked, "You're like a bad penny!"
I took him to the counter, began checking him out, and thought to myself, "How odd. He is dancing to Yes's Roundabout. Not really a dance tune."
I did my usual, "Is there anything else you need?"
He pulled out a gun and said he needed all the money from my register.
I was working with a 16 year old girl under my charge, and my concern was keeping her safe, which was ironic because I was documenting her behavior and lack of work to fire her.

I'm not bragging, but I handle him very well, and was able to keep him calm. I had taught at a school where we had two fatal shootings, so I had been trained on what to do in a crisis situation when a firearm or weapon is being brandished.

I called 911, and ran to the parking lot. As it turned out, there was a police car in the lot, getting ready to pull out of the strip mall. Because I was on a cordless phone, I was unable to go into the lot without losing the connection, so I told the 16 year old to run to the office. She walked at a snail's pace, which was her usual speed. So, somewhere there is a 911 tape of me yelling, "Would you please run to the car? They are about to pull out of the parking lot!"

Once I had called 911, I called the other store in the area. The manager there thought it was a prank. Once convinced she called the manager and the owner of the company, and I took the 16 year old to the store next door, because she was nearly hysterical. They wouldn't let her sit in their backroom because it was against policy to let people in there. Nice.

I called my parents, and cried that my ring was stolen. They, of course, said the ring was replaceable and they were glad I was safe. Dad was there lickety split, and the 16 year old's parents were also called and quickly arrived.

The police were great--and the lead detective HOT! At the station I was finger printed so they could tell what prints were mine, the 16 year olds and his. I had to do the composite drawing. They were impressed with my memory of him, but I had seen him 3 times and joked around with him. I described the gun, what he was wearing, and what he looked like.

What was horrible was the way the company treated me. They told me I could take the next day off, but I wouldn't get paid. The night of the robbery, they told me they would replace my ring, if not through their insurance, they themselves would pay for it. They lied. I didn't expect them to pay for it, but then they really should not have said they would.

I told them I was not comfortable to continue the night deposits, because this man was obviously staking us out, which was why he kept leaving and returning. He didn't want any customers there.
Sorry, we are going to still do night deposits. (Did I mention that it was usually 2 women working there? We had 2 guys, but there was no way they could both work every night.)
They got a security camera, but only used it to watch the employees.
Not long after, I left. The owner would never ask me how I was doing, and even though she saw me a few times, and would ask how the investigation was going, never asked me directly how I was doing. Instead she would ask the manager, who would relate it back and forth.

I ended up leaving after they told me "too bad" about the night deposits. We didn't have a safe to keep a deposit in, and so the money wasn't secure. Neither were the people making a deposit at 10:00 at night, but that was no thing.

Then, after I left, they started opening my mail that was from the district attorney. (They caught the guy, which is another tale).
I was livid. The manager wouldn't even call to tell me I had mail there. She would open it and read it and leave a sticky note to let her know what was going on, but would have the night managers call me and tell me it was in, rather than call me herself. I told the night manager the second time this happened that it is a federal crime to open another person's mail, particularly when it is from the prosecuting attorney's office.

So, that is the tale that started so many changes in my life. Believe it or not, most of the changes were for the better. I will illuminate more over the following days.