I'm dying for the day when I can tell that to my Congressional Representatives in person; but, in the meantime, my karma is working out just fine.
OK. I'm getting a bit older and forgetful. I will not say that I am always impeccably honest, but in many areas I am. Since I was 14, I would return money or wallets to their rightful owners.
In the past month, I have misplaced a very important hat of mine. I did find it a week later, but not where it should have been. Leah managed to find a Russian surplus company that will give us both a spare (if you want cold weather gear, find somebody that comes from a place where it's never warm!)
Last Thursday, I lost (misplaced, pickpocketed...) my wallet. I couldn't find it anywhere and proceeded to cancel my debit cards and begin the process to get replacements for that and other ID. My original Social Security Card was in there, as well as my medicare card. ID THEFT!!! The process to cancel them and get new ones runs about 3 months. Besides, Medicare isn't any good here, but could easily be used to rip off an identity and would be worth a small fortune in the U.S.
My most important ID at the moment is my CNIC Card (Canadian National Institute for the Blind) because it allows me to ride public transportation at no charge. That takes two months to replace, during which time I would be on foot. Granted, Guelph is not that large, but I can't walk everywhere, especially since I am legally blind.
I also have a valid Arizona Driver's License, which I don't ever intend to use. However, the principle is that my grandfather also had glaucoma and was buried with a valid California driver's license. I plan on the same. Arizona told me that I can easily get a replacement by coming in and taking a few tests...RIGHT! Like I could pass them and they're 2500 kilometres from where I live. That's why I gave away a very good car and haven't been behind the wheel in four years.
To make a very long story pleasantly short, I got a call this afternoon from the security department of the downtown mall where it disappeared, that they had found my wallet! I ran down (on foot...can't ride the bus without my CNIB card) and picked it up. They tracked me down through my bank cards (debit -- not credit) and got my phone number. Unfortunately (but not unexpected) the two five$ were not in there, but everything else is.
Thank goodness I don't have to go through trying to replace my American ID, because there I was looking at 3-6 months, if ever. I don't keep my passport in my wallet, thank GOD. They have now made the requirements almost impossible to get a replacement (can you document every place you have lived in since you were 5-years-old?) My passport is good for another 3 years, whether I decide to use it or not. Besides, my ex-wife has had me arrested to the border the last three times I've re-entered the U.S. from any direction.
All things considered, my modicum of honesty is paying off as Karma. Everything has worked out well in the past week.
recommend
Facebook
Twitter
bookmark 
print
Comments: 12
BTW, when you get up tomorrow, give me all your cards. I am going to take pics of both sides of them, and save them, so you'll have numbers, etc. Your American cards are going to go into a Safe, either here or at the bank!! They're good to have, but you don't need to show them to anyone up here, so it's best to keep them safe, since they're so hard to replace.
It was a pleasure to find the Russian surplus store, and the excuse to call them about Canadian shipping was G R E A T !!! Dmitry has a very sexy voice! :) If you are going to lose things, lose things that can be found at that store! :)
http://www.russianarmysurplus.com/
I'm sure you'll find something you want from there, and when you do, let me do the talking. tehehehe :)
"Uh...yeah, I was wondering if you sell shoes?"
"Da."
"Hi, um... I mean privyet! Do you sell both left and right shoes?"
Dmitry, with a sigh, "Da," and then, "Igor thees woman ees calling and calling."
Yes, that was my Russian accent in that last one. Does it sound German?
Next time I call Dmitry, I'm going to ask if he sells personal assistants. :) A couple of Russians running around here cooking, and running errands for us, and entertaining us (they ALL have sexy accents, and they all sing beautifully!!) would be awesome! :)
The bank gave them your phone number??