It's in the bag

Hi neighbors. It's going to take more than three cups of coffee to figure out who to vote for Tuesday. Just be certain to vote!

If we don't vote, we can't control our government; and we don't want to see how that might turn out. The best proof of citizenship is voting.

My grandchild called me Halloween night with scary news. She had been robbed! Her Mom had taken her to "beggars night" at the mall. With her trick or treat bag more than half-full of candy and treats, she decided she wanted a piece of bubblegum out of the vending machine.

They had eaten at the mall cafeteria, just steps away, and she left her bag on the table while she and her Mom stepped over to the vending machine.

When they returned to the table the bag was gone. Unfortunately, she had left her mask in the bag as well, so her trick or treating was pretty much over. All she had walked so much for was gone.

Luckily, her Mom didn't throw her cell phone in the bag, although the thought had crossed her mind earlier. You'd think muggers would have more respect for Batgirl!

Once the disappointment was abated by her soon-to-be step Dad Karl buying her more candy and another Halloween goodies bag, the sense of fearful outrage took over.

She had not only called me, but she also called her father, two of her best friends, and had an endless list of who she needed to warn about Halloween bag thieves.

When she was telling me about it, I could tell she was still a bit upset. "Why do people do things like that, Grandma? Couldn't they get their own candy?"

Ignoring all the debates on why people become thieves, I told her some people just made mistakes sometimes and take things that aren‚t theirs.

After talking with her I had to wonder a bit myself why anyone would steal something that was being given away free for the asking.

I've never understood why people steal, and I certainly don't feel adequate to explain their thought processes to anyone of any age, much less a five year old enjoying an evening with her family.

Of course, there is stealing and then there is stealing. Some CEOs and some politicians feel taking money or items from the deep pockets of their company or country is acceptable.

Some employees think taking a pencil home from work by accident is unacceptable behavior for themselves.

Maybe that's why some people don't want the ten commandments posted in courthouses. The ten commandments are pretty simplistic and the law is pretty complicated. "Don't steal" seems simple enough, but then again, there is stealing and then there is stealing.

Too often "don't steal" is interpreted as "don't steal unless what you take won't be missed" or "don't steal unless you need it" or "don't steal if there is a good chance you might get caught," or even "only steal if you think it will help someone else." Like I said, the law is very complicated.

Just like politics. Understanding politics and knowing your politicians can be very complicated too.

Knowing who to vote for just by what the person running against them says about them doesn't seem like a very wise system.

Of course, if the person running against them didn't tattle on what they have done wrong, who would? We know whoever is running will be quick to tell us what they themselves have done right. So maybe the system is smarter than I give it credit for.

Back to stealing -- I've had my home broken into and things stolen, so I know how it feels to have personal possessions taken away by stealth.

It was very upsetting to me that Alyssa had to suffer that transgression of innocence to know some people just take things away because no one is watching, no one is being diligent.

One moment is all it takes to walk past a table and pick up a bag of candy.

Maybe one election where you chose not to vote will someday prove to be the one moment when your lack of diligence made a tragic difference.

Until the next time friends remember, thieves are everywhere, and they don't all just steal candy. Be diligent, be a good citizen. Vote!