Tonight's picture was taken in April of 2002. Mattie was just born and home from the hospital. Look who was on the couch overseeing the process? Our calico cat Patches! Patches was a true member of our family. She found us literally, as she wandered from the street onto our deck. Shoot in the paw with a BB gun. Patches came to us a mess, but grew into a beautiful cat, who we had for 16 years. When Mattie was born, Patches just understood that she had to behave and watch over Mattie. Even when he pulled her tail and chased her as a toddler, she was patient and never hissed or scratched. Mattie became a preschooler who was very protective of Patches and taught his friends how to interact with a cat, if they weren't familiar with cats. Patches was a loyal and loving companion who we remember today, on the fourth anniversary of her death.
Patches ashes remain with us, in a beautiful wood box. She meant that much to us.
Quote of the day: There are some things in this world you rely on, like a sure bet. And when they let you down, shifting from where you've carefully placed them, it shakes your faith, right where you stand. ~ Sarah Dessen
I was in the car with my friend today, as we were running chores. In the midst of chatting, her cell phone rang. She answered it and I could hear screaming on the other end. It was a person who claimed to have kidnapped her daughter and wanted my friend's attention and money. He even put a young girl on the phone for us to hear. The girl was hysterical and screaming for help. The kidnapper said that if my friend didn't comply he was going to cut all of her daughter's fingers off.
I have to tell you this was a very disturbing phone call. I wasn't even thinking straight because if I had been, I would have called her daughter with my cell phone to verify that she was okay. My friend knew about the virtual kidnapping scam, but nonetheless, right after the call, she contacted her daughter. Who fortunately was find! I then grabbed my friend's cell phone to look at the number of the person who called her. It was a number out of Mexico (I am reporting what showed up on the phone). In any case, I then called 911. Naturally 911 knew all about the hoax and said there was NOTHING they could do about it. They could only help if the child was really kidnapped or if money was transferred.
This whole incident has stayed with me all day. It really made me uneasy and truly disheartened to think two things..... 1) there are people out there pretending to kidnap children to get money, and have no regard for human life and how this news will affect parents on the phone, and 2) that there isn't anything that local law enforcement can do about this crime. It leaves me perplexed, further disappointed with humanity, and truly wondering about the state of our world.
I found the article below that highlights the virtual scam in the DC region and what I do what to say is that if this happens to you or someone you know, it should be reported to your local FBI office.
Reports of virtual kidnapping scams pop up in region:
http://wtop.com/local/2016/05/reports-virtual-kidnapping-scams-pop-region/
1 comment:
Vicki, terrified beyond any words imaginable were the first thoughts, I had as I read the portion in your blog about the latest scam. Worse than terrifying! To think there are people who would actually do this makes me wonder what is happening in the world that so much hate exists. Obviously, there is little regard for life which is such a sad commentary!
Your quote caught in my throat, followed by the beautiful picture of Peter hold baby Mattie and your protective Patches. I know this picture will stay in my thoughts as I know the furthest thing from your mind when you snapped this picture, was in 7 short years, you would be living without Mattie. The picture says many things to me. I am so sorry that Mattie died. That as a society, we have failed to put Childhood Cancer as a priority.
Post a Comment