Hardwired for melodrama, I could have become a public nuisance when my 2003 Ford Escort was stolen from my parking spot #372 in the Bella Vista Complex, New Haven, Connecticut, on June 25th. [Here is the ebook I published on public nuisance, yours free Download Publicnuisancevoodoo.] Therapists as well as executive coaches have called me the "Drama Queen of the East Coast" and maybe further west. Yes, I had to discuss the tragedy with them and my psychic.
It was, well, disappointing that the whole enchilada as well as every part of it went smoothly and to my advantage. State Farm Insurance was helpful, efficient, and even medium-warm. Today that insurance company told me the check had been mailed on July 28th. The other check, for loss of the personal property in the vehicle, will likely arrive next week. Even I, a seasoned kvetcher can't kvetch.
There's more. The State of Connecticut, including the Motor Vehicle Department and the Property Tax Division, were also helpful, efficient but not warm. I will cut them slack on the last part. Without needing to schlep on the bus, which I have to do now, I was able to cancel my plates and apply for a prorated return of the property tax I have already paid in on the car.
One more piece: The Police in the city of New Haven. They got their jobs done. That was commendable given that they probably have to process many stolen vehicles daily. The only mini kvetch is that I had to hoof it on two buses, which meant two buses also back, to file a report in-person, following filing a report over the telephone. At the time I was clueless about how the bus system operated. My therapist assessed that I handled that "new task" well, i.e. I got there and back.
I want to thank all: State Farm, the State of Connecticut, and the New Haven Police. Given the long half life of trauma for me, this experience will be part of me for about 20 to 30 more years. The good part of that flashback will be that the system, including the insurance one, worked.