Ups and Downs

We are back from Cleveland and Allison and Mark's wedding was unbelievable.  The bride was absolutely stunning and it was such a happy and celebratory day.  All of the bridesmaids wore gold dresses (all different) and we always have the best time ever when we are together!  It was so special on so many levels, especially to spend time with long time friends and family.  Mark and Allison are both such wonderful people and I was honored to be a part of their wedding.

Unfortunately, I only have these few cell phone pictures to post.  It's a long story, but this has been one hell of a shitty week.  On Sunday after the wedding, we went down to the hotel to grab my stuff out of the bridal suite.  I packed up my bag with my camera, all of my lenses, clothes, and my entire "tackle box" of makeup, cremes, perfumes and brushes.  Matt decided to go and put it in the car, which was parked right outside of the Hyatt Regency in Cleveland and then ran back up to get me.  

No more than 20 minutes passed as we said our goodbyes and headed back down to the car.  As we approached, my heart stopped.  Someone had smashed his back window and had stolen the entire bag with all of its contents.  

This is my first time that I have had such valuable and sentimental things stolen from me.  I can tell you it is one of the worst feelings in the world.  All week, I've had this pit of sadness and a feeling of violation that I just can't shake.  

And I know make-up sounds like a trivial thing, but I have built up quite a collection through the years and ALL of it was in that box.  YSL, Dior, Chanel, MAC, Sigma brushes...I don't mean to come off as pretentious, but that shit is expensive!  

I know it can be replaced, but all of the stuff that was stolen added up to thousands of dollars... And the worst part is my husband ALWAYS puts our stuff in the trunk and the one time he didn't, (because it was broad daylight, on a busy street and we were only gone for 20 minutes), we get robbed.  

On top of everything else, due to external factors out of my control, today I found out that I lost a HUGE piece of business that I have been working on for almost a year. FML.   

When I think about it, I have been trying to put things in perspective.  We have our health.   Our dogs weren't in the car.  Our families are healthy.  We sure have a lot to be thankful for, but it doesn't make what happened easier. 

So, I guess the reason I am telling you this is for a few reasons.  Until I get a new camera, my posts will be more sparse.  Also, if you ever have anything of value, don't leave it in your car and if you have to, always put it in the trunk.  

Sorry for the sob story.  My brother Kevan and his wife Lauren jokingly told me to start a Go Fund Me page to get my stuff back.  It resulted in one of the few laughs I've had all week, picturing my story, begging to replace my expensive make-up collection and DSLR camera, next to the pages of people who really need help.  Talk about perspective...

Let's hope, the only place to go from here is UP!