My friend Trixie in Key West wrote to me this morning. She is a world-traveler, lately fixated on India and immediate surrounds. We are certain she was an Indian princess in a past life. If there is such a thing. As a past life.
She so enjoys her adventures. But, sadly, last week she returned from a trip to find that HER very lovely home in a very nice Key West neighborhood (that she bought with my help for a very good price) had been successfully burglarized:
Dear S.,
I unfortunately returned home on Monday to discover that someone had broken into my house while I was away. They took all my jewelry and small electronics. It’s a stressful situation, and I’m sorry that you were burglarized too.
Incidentally the policeman that came over to take some initial info told me that my $3000 gold necklace that I bought 5 years ago, had depreciated to $1500 "just like a TV." Yikes! This is a bad situation when we have policemen like that.
I did have a few photos, but am not hopeful about getting anything back. What’s most upsetting is that many were necklaces that I had bought in India, Arabia and Morocco. Alert everyone to be extra careful and also to take photos of their jewelry and the receipt.
At least no one was hurt and they didn’t trash my house.
xoxoxo T.
So. It’s not just Costa Rica. There’s a German word: shadenfreude. It means loosely "shame joy" and it’s that feeling you get when you know you are not alone. That the bad thing did not happen just to you. You are sorry it happened to your friend, too. But, shamefully, it’s somehow comforting…
Just like us, you know the burglars have been watching her house. Knew she was gone. That is such a creepy feeling. Up to now, there has not been a lot of robbery in Key West. Only one road leading out. Where real crime gets real punishment. And, all the pawn shop owners know each other, they have kids in school, donate to community events. They like knowing where the merchandise comes from.
I’ve suggested a nice coil of razor wire atop her fence. Up to now, there hasn’t much call for razor wire in Key West. Can’t wait to see how HARC* handles that!!!
*HARC = Historical (Hysterical?) Architectural Review Commission. Aka: The Aesthetic Police.
And P.S. That policeman doesn’t know his gold from his nickel. Five years ago, gold was at around $300/ounce. Today it’s at $673. More than double. Small comfort to Trixie.
Yikes, that BITES! I was robbed in Miami and they took all the good jewel my Dad had given me and left the cheap stuff! Boy, was I pissed. Took my camera too. I’ve never accummulated “expensive” jewel since (plus my Dad died).
I see a change a coming in the U.S.A. as well. People are LOSING their homes! Desperate people do desperate things and it’s always about the have’s and the have not’s. That’s not even considering all the crack-heads floating around. Can you imagine going back home and razor wire everywhere?
We may be ahead of the times here with our tacky security.
I agree with the prognosis… but no one wants to hear it. And tacky? Our new shiny razor wire is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!
Sally, your literary fireworks knows few bounds but your Deutsch could use a bit of work. Schadenfreude (mit ein C) actually means enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others. So, in your context, if you experienced schadenfreude, you would, usually furtively, take pleasure in your friend’s misfortune. (You might take “malicious delight”.) I experience no schadenfreude when I parse your prose (a little poetry now and then?); only delight. Keep your stream of (sub)consciousness flowing. It is ausgesprochen ausgelassen und ausgezeichnet.
Thank you, Jerry. I think you said “Downright hilarious and kick-ass?” Hal is asleep (he spent a year in Germany 40 years ago… he’s my translator) so I went to http://dict.tu-chemnitz.de/. You are a poet. Danke für Ihre Hilfe.
That’s pretty close, Sally. Not bad. You can read it a bit more formally as “decidedly high-spirited and excellent”. Actually, schadenfreude is a joy of a word with felicitous applications in so many contexts. For example, it can reflect a constant state of mind for all ardent Democrats viewing BushCheney screwups. Choose your application. Cheers.
Your application makes me chuckle! Sharing it with mom now… pura vida!