Process it and let it go

So I flat out lost $100. Gone. Two crisp fifty dollar bills that Seth’s mom and dad gave us for Christmas (early so we could do Christmas shopping) that are now either in a dumpster somewhere or in some less-than-honest guy’s pocket.

It all started last night when Seth and I went to his company’s Christmas party. They rented Costco from 10pm till midnight and gave everyone gift cards to spend, served hors d’oeuvres, and had a live band. Other than the time of night, it was a nice gathering. After a few shrimp and a couple Italian sodas we were beat, but we also needed to purchase a few staples: diapers, wipes, milk, etc. It was when we went to pay for our items at the register that the fifties vanished.

Seth left me at the register while the guy was ringing up our items. I began searching for the gift cards in my purse, and started to get frazzled, thinking Seth had the cards with him. In that frenzied state of mind, I piled a bunch of coupons and other junk from my purse up on the counter at the checkout stand. I found my card and paid for my items. Seth rejoined me, and we took our groceries and headed home to get some rest.

I was looking through my purse this afternoon and realized that not only was I missing some junk from my purse, but also the envelope with the fifties. It all came to me at once. I knew exactly where it was. It was in my pile of coupons I left at Costco. I started getting nauseous and I freaked.

I grabbed Seth’s cell and called Costco. No one had turned in the money. I gave the manager the name of our cashier from the receipt. The manager even went and spoke with “Michael P”, who confirmed I had left a pile of papers at his checkstand. Apparently another worker grabbed them and, he assumed, threw them away. I got even more nauseous. I started to cry. Seth and I were trying to be careful to not spend too much money this Christmas so we would have enough left over for my birthday and our 10 year anniversary (both are in the week before Christmas).

Then my good husband reminded me of the quote I had on my fridge, “If you can’t do anything about it, process it and let it go.” He then said, “It is only one hundred dollars.” Anyone who knows Seth knows he keeps a strict budget. My two crisp fifties are either in “Mikie P’s” pocket or in a trash compactor some place, but would have been especially useful this holiday season.

Seth reassured me it was done and there was nothing more I could do and he left it at that. He didn’t ask the obvious questions that I was already asking myself. Why is my purse so loaded with crap that I can’t find things? Why didn’t I think to grab my coupons and papers before leaving Costco? Why did it take me a whole day to realize I left that money? All good questions that don’t really do any good answering at this point. He didn’t say a thing. I love him for that.

Needless to say, I am pretty bummed and disappointed in myself. But that being said, it is done and now I am done with it. So now I have processed it and now I am going to let it go…