An 1886 silver dollar. This was about 10 years ago and it was a well worn coin that my grandfather had given me. Nowadays in that condition it would be worth about $15, maybe less. My grandfather had carried it with him during the war to remind him of his family, and at that point he had no existing ancestors, only descendants. I was his favorite grandchild so I inherited it during what would end up being my last visit to him before he died. I carried that thing everywhere. One day, in my senior year of high school, it was stolen from my gym locker. The thief didn't take the 20 dollar bill I had in my wallet right next to the coin for gas that afternoon, didn't take my emergency credit card and/or ID - nope, he took an old, worn coin that had sentimental value. My mother's only response to it was "you shouldn't have taken it to school." Wouldn't go to bat to ask the school to investigate, nothing. I asked around but nobody admitted knowing anything. I'm still angry and sad thinking about it.
There was another occasion when I was about 11. It was my birthday. Since it falls so close to Thanksgiving, my family often does a b-day/T-day gathering. On this particular year it was held at my parents' house. My brother had recently moved out and his room had been converted to a library/playroom for me. At the time I was very fond of My Littlest Pet Shop toys, the old style ones (the new ones are too cartoony for my taste) and had quite a few playsets as well as a couple of the larger storage containers. The closest relatives I had, age-wise, were second cousins- a boy nearly a year younger, a girl a couple years younger than that, and a girl that was at the time barely above a toddler. Well, at some point during the party my mother notices my cousin (the kids' mother) attempting to walk out the back door carrying the two storage containers, both stuffed full with quite a few pieces. She asks about it, and the mother announces that I had told her that they could have all my 'old toys' since I was too grown up for them now. My mother immediately knew it was a lie since I had asked for a playset of those very toys for THIS birthday, not to mention played with them all the time, etc. She didn't even ask me, just told the woman that was not going to happen and took the kits back. I happened on the scene as she was taking them back and freaked out. Later I found that some items were missing so I can only assume they left in the hands of that family. I mean, really, who steals toys from a relative ON THEIR BIRTHDAY?
