a story of ransom [throwback thursday]

[via]

Have you ever had this conversation with yourself? Oh.. neither have I.

I'll admit, I'm a bit dependent on my iPhone. Ok, maybe a lot. It's really quite sad actually.

I was finally able to realize that I had a problem on a random night in Boston in May 2009.

My friend Jane and I were vacationing in Boston, living it up and enjoying life. *let's note that this was before I was married* One night we were dancing it up casually hanging out at some bar a local establishment until the early morning hours a decent time at night.

Jane and I taking a break from dancing

We took a cab back to our hotel. 

Once we got into our hotel room, I realized that my life was over I didn't have my iPhone!

I was drunk so upset and crying hysterically very emotional.

We used Jane's phone to call my phone. 

This is where the craziness starts-- the cab driver answered MY phone.. I was so relieved! I asked him politely if he could bring the phone back to the hotel. I even offered to pay him for the inconvenience.

His response was, "How much is this phone worth to you?"...

What?! Was he serious?? Yes, yes he was.

He hung up and told me to call him back if I was willing to PAY for MY phone. 

Yep. He was holding my phone hostage and asking for ransom! 

I was freaking out! 

I had just moved to NYC from TX the week before. 

My life was in that phone. 

All of the information for my new job (which I was starting the following week) was in that phone. 

My personal pictures, my contacts, my emails, everything... WAS IN THAT PHONE!

We contacted the front desk who then contacted the police department. We filed a report but I mean really...what could they do? We didn't know the name of the cab driver. We didn't know the cab number. How would he ever find him? And how would I ever get my phone back?

The next morning, this newspaper was at our hotel door. This is the first page I saw when I opened it. Tragic. 

I was so upset that we went to an Apple store the very next day so that I could purchase a new phone.

I was pissed but we enjoyed the rest of our trip and I made my way back to NYC a few days later.

Jane and I after our trip to the Apple store. She decided to distract me by taking me to the Boston Aquarium.

One of the fabulous employees at the hotel we stayed at. I obviously had to take a picture with him before we left!

The week after our Boston trip, I received an email from a man I did not know.

His name was Jason. He said he purchased an iPhone from a cab driver in Boston, looked through the pictures, thought I was cute, and decided to email me and ask if I would like to go out to dinner sometime. Oh and he said he'd even give me my phone back if I really wanted it.

Ummm... really?!?! 

I obviously said no. I was not going to meet a random man who wanted to take me out to dinner in exchange for MY phone.

I contacted the police officer who took my initial report. I forwarded him the email. 

They were able to locate the guy who emailed me, question him, and get my phone back!!

Next thing I know, I'm reading an email from this Jason guy cussing me out and telling me that I am a horrible person because he was just trying to do something nice for me.
And then he asked me to be his friend on Facebook.
Um, no, Jason, I would not like to be your friend but I will be forever grateful for your obnoxious emails which lead me back to my iPhone. Thank you.

It was a crazy but very memorable experience.

And you better believe, I double-check my purse before exiting a cab now. :)