MALICE KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES 😡

A WEIRD STORY AND PERHAPS A WARNING

Something happened to me on Tuesday that I wouldn't have thought possible. I was not sure I would want to write about this, but I have—quite obviously—decided to.

I received a call on my landline without a caller ID. Normally, I don't answer if I don't recognise the number, but that day, I did. I don't know why it was different.

I only answered with a "hello" and the voice on the other end addressed me by my first and last name. He was from the police in Munich and it was about my daughter. I was confused at first because my daughter hasn't lived in Germany for years and isn't registered. But he knew where she lived and her name. What came next threw me completely off track.

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I apologise for my simple-mindedness but I am writing this here because it can really happen to anyone if you press the right buttons. Perhaps it could also be seen as a warning.

This man, who claimed to be Thomas Schmidt, told me that my daughter had caused an accident in which a woman and her small child had died. The next moment I heard someone crying loudly. He was supposedly talking to the police in England on another phone. He claimed that it was my daughter that I had just heard.

With a clear view, this story has more holes than a Swiss cheese but I was so triggered by the crying and the prospect of my child being in trouble, possibly traumatised, and in danger, that my mind briefly shut down. I still tried to stay calm and asked a few questions as it didn't really make sense.

My mind came back when I was told that my daughter had bitten her tongue in the accident and couldn't talk and that she would have to go to prison for about 4-6 weeks until things were sorted out. But they tried to spare her that. However, a deposit would have to be paid to the court in Munich today - he suggested a sum of €92,000 - in order to spare her imprisonment. Now I was awake again.

I asked the nice gentleman to give me his phone number so that I could call him back and verify it. He was very understanding as he had been a police officer for over 30 years and gave me a number.

Before I called there, I tried everything to reach my daughter. I called, sent text messages, then I tried her boyfriend and couldn't get through to anyone. That was the moment when mild to moderate panic set in. I then got hold of my son and asked him to try and get his sister on the phone. Then I called the number I was given. "This number is not in service" was all I got.

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At that moment, my floodgates opened and I cried and shook uncontrollably. I don't know whether from relief or anger - probably a mixture of both.

Then my son called, he had reached his sister and at the same moment she called too.

I was infinitely grateful that everything was OK and at the same time I was furious. On the one hand, I'm angry to have fallen for something like this and being that gullible, I'm angry that there are malicious people who do this to others.

I can't think of anyone around me who would be capable of something like that. It may also have been completely random, as it's far too easy to get information on pretty much anyone nowadays. We are far too transparent and that of course opens the door to such sick perverts who have no qualms about hurting others for their own gain, be it monetary or feeding on their emotions.

It is a sad truth that malice simply knows no bounds.

I realise this post may let me appear weak and gullible and I am the first to admit that I was in that instant. It really took me a while to understand that I had fallen for a very cruel hoax. We never know how we react in certain situations until they arise.

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As I always become a lioness when it comes to my children, it was my greatest trigger. I have learned from this experience, though, and do not wish this on anyone. Unfortunately, these kinds of events make us lose even more trust, and that in itself is saddening.

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🎶My Song for you

I chose this amazing version of Radiohead’s version of the song Creep by Macy Gray

For more good music, go to this Spotify playlist where you can find all the songs from the Change & Evolve Letters!

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📚My Poem for you

Is by Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

I measure every Grief I meet

I measure every Grief I meet
With narrow, probing, eyes – 
I wonder if It weighs like Mine – 
Or has an Easier size.

I wonder if They bore it long – 
Or did it just begin – 
I could not tell the Date of Mine – 
It feels so old a pain – 

I wonder if it hurts to live – 
And if They have to try – 
And whether – could They choose between – 
It would not be – to die – 

I note that Some – gone patient long – 
At length, renew their smile –  
An imitation of a Light
That has so little Oil – 

I wonder if when Years have piled –  
Some Thousands – on the Harm –  
That hurt them early – such a lapse
Could give them any Balm –  

Or would they go on aching still
Through Centuries of Nerve – 
Enlightened to a larger Pain –  
In Contrast with the Love –  

The Grieved – are many – I am told –  
There is the various Cause –  
Death – is but one – and comes but once –  
And only nails the eyes –  

There's Grief of Want – and grief of Cold –  
A sort they call "Despair" –  
There's Banishment from native Eyes – 
In sight of Native Air –  

And though I may not guess the kind –  
Correctly – yet to me
A piercing Comfort it affords
In passing Calvary –  

To note the fashions – of the Cross –  
And how they're mostly worn –  
Still fascinated to presume
That Some – are like my own – 

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👀Impression

A slightly more eerie view from my balcony

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Let me know your thoughts in the comments, leave a ❤️ or send me a message. I always love hearing from you.

Wishing you a lovely weekend wherever you are.

Yours

Tanja 🤗

PS. You can now also find my podcast on Spotify

Change & Evolve and feel free to get in touch