To Whom it may concern,
My name is Mel Anderson. Though from what I’ve found a name holds little precedence to most these days. Rather, we are limited to a number. A Number, that should the day come if it suddenly grows legs along with that which also has a lovely state approved picture of one’s face, it can stall… or, from my experience, bring your entire life to a grinding stop.
February 24th of this year could have been a wonderful day, though it seemed to be eventually ill fated or doomed to begin a landslide of ill happenings at least for the last month of my life. All surrounding being the victim of a senseless purse thief. Now I happen to be one of those people who yes, I do read horror-scopes, believe in ‘signs’ and all that jazz, though my downfall is I am a walking contradiction.
I do also believe that if it is known it also has the possibility to change. With that idea I ignored all the ‘signs’ that my birthday was doomed.
Now- no party was planned all of our friends had other more pressing things save for one,
So we planned a simple night, just movies and dinner. As the night went on the weather took a drastic turn from over cast to everything at once. Many will remember the day of hail, rain, snow, thunder lighting all at once. There’s the bad omen right there, if you believe in such things. Though- bullheaded by ten pm I was anxious- I mean, who spends their birthday, their one day of the year, at home doing nothing?
10 pm the first calls to the cab companies, surprise can’t get through- 11pm still no luck on a cab. Still bull headed by 11:30 I figured we (my boyfriend and I) would walk to the near pub of Cal’s. Our home away from home. A fun little club- all I really wanted to do for my birthday to begin with. Bundling up with my new little umbrella we trek out into natures wrath. Gladly- it seemed to better just a little bit on our way there. I thought maybe- maybe I beat the bad luck.
Cal’s was packed. Packed so much in this little 40ft of loud good music you could barely get through the door. I inertly cheer at the top of my lungs- maybe this would be a grand night after all. Shots begin drinks everything is going great!
1am- I need a pack of smokes out of my bag. Reach around the counter to where I put it every weekend. I mean – you just don’t worry about keeping your bags securely on your hip at Cal’s. everyone goes into a state of panic. It’s gone. Mike (who is of the owning family of Cal’s) goes dumpster hopping in the cold icy wind for me. It’s gown legs and gone.
Insert my naiveté’s here. I instantly cancel my cell phone. I didn’t have any credit cards so, no worries there. Right? At 28 you would think- I would know better. Have you ever read the back of your social security card that say’s ‘Never ever carry it on you.’? Yeah- I missed that part too. I was working on getting my passport that week so of course- I had everything in my bag. Social security card, all forms of picture ID- Birth certificate. Things you think- would be easy enough to replace.
Wrong answer. Okay now. If you Live where you were born, raised, and or went to school it would be simple enough to replace, simply go to city hall and ask for your school records. Hospital records would work as well.
Now, if you are like me – and are very far from where you were born, haven’t been to the hospital in God only knows how long- basically you have no records of your life.
Monday the 26th- first trips to Chicago DMV, Social Security and US Mail office. All I heard this day was-
you need a social security card for another ID. You need a picture ID for a social security card replacement, you need a picture ID and your SS card for a passport.
Sound like a circle to me? Upset and exhausted I go home defeated.
Tuesday the 27nd. I go through anything and everything paper I might have to prove who I am. I come up with the receipt of getting my license 4 years ago, the receipt of my last ss card replacement. My Lease (with a copy of my dl on it) My security clearance copies from my apt building. All with my picture on it. My Bally’s card with my picture on it.
My GED and my Book with my picture on both the cover and the back (few published) but still- a published book! And the police report of my purse snatching.
Wednesday the 28th, feeling hopeful with my overflowing folder of ‘proof’ who I am I head back to the Social security office. ‘I’m sorry we can’t help you.’ We can’t take copies, we can’t take this we can’t take that.’ Pleading I ask where do I start then.
I know this woman did genuinely feel for me, though she could not offer any advise of any sort. All she says is hospital records anything else. Hospital records. That stumps me for the simple fact – that doesn’t have my picture on it! And- ANYONE can get your hospital records- much like your birth certificate.
Just to derail for a moment- let’s confront Birth certificates. They mean nothing. N O T H I N G. Anyone can know your name and get your BC. Anyone can know your name and log onto a BC program online (I was told) and create a false one. Government offices do not take BC’s as any sort of I.D of who you are. Oddly that was the first thing I received a replacement of. Funny I was hoping it might have a little pull. No. Now the irony of BC’s is that if someone steals your purse and you have your BC and SS card – TOGETHER- whoever stole your purse can walk right into a DMV and get a state ID with their picture- your info as long as they also have a piece of mail addressed to you. (Never keep any mail in your purse either.) I found. Fantastic. So in all actuality it is much easier to Steal someone’s identity than to reclaim your own.
If you are like me. I am the one who falls through the cracks.
What I mean by this is- I don’t have parents. No-one to have all that great extra information or records on me. I didn’t go to high-school, no old school ID or records that way. I have a GED. (They won’t accept GED or diplomas as ID) I am not from this state so I can’t just stroll into City Hall and ask for my records on me. I am from Washington. Though I have moved around half my life for the fact I wanted to live- to be to travel and to learn our great states. I did that grandly. When I moved to Chicago I was hopeful, I had a new love I had new hope I had a new big city to learn. Well that’s a whole other story. The point is, nothing would be easy for me to replace here.
Thank God for being a ward of the state when I was young and going to college. I was told my Official College Transcripts (un-opened) would be accepted by the SS. Office.
Now here is the twist in my story. This couldn’t have happened at a worse time. I am supposed to be moving home to Washington on the 29th of march. Now many know and many don’t you cannot get a lease to an apt with no form of I.D my lease is up this month. I have no I.D. You cannot board a plane train bus or rent/drive an automobile without a valid DL or ID.
Thursday I took the day off. Wednesday I cried in the S.S office defeated again. With no one offering any sort of help as to where to BEGIN. My faith is faltering I discover anxiety attacks really do exist. I bury myself in pillows for most of the day.
Friday the 2nd. Back to the DMV. ‘I’m sorry you need these things.’ ‘Let me please talk to the supervisor.’ Ed the supervisor for about 5 minutes gave me hope. Quickly he looks at my folder of items says ‘Well you have more than some. Go to My office up the street to this S.S office, tell them I sent you and talk to the supervisor there. They can help you.
Dear Ed- You letter scrawled on the back of that little piece of paper didn’t mean crap to the S.S office you referred me to.
Though it meant nothing to the S.S office the other thing you said about R.I. DMV faxing you my driving records did give me an idea.
Homeward bound I truck- intent on looking up the Rhode Island DMV where my license was issued. 4 years ago. Something on their webpage catches my eye. Out of state License renewal for up to 2 years. Fill out these forms. Awesome!!!! I see light at the end of this tunnel! The forms wouldn’t download so here I jump on the phone and call them please send me these forms.
This brought on a week of waiting for the R.I forms to get to me in the mail. I get them ecstatic all they want is an eye doctor form and some basic info along with a notarized photo form. Easy enough right? Sure time is crunching but hey – I should have it all by the 20th right?
Now- it is March 16th. Panic attacks are real my friend. Very. I go back to the S.S office in a last ditch attempt. This time with my B.F as a personal witness and once again with my bulging folder of This is really me crap. They would have none of it and once again only merely said get us College id or transcripts. Fine great fantastic. I cry in their office again. Defeated again. I go home.
Look up my old college , download the request forms – fax them to them and beg for them to get my transcripts asap in the mail. All the while waiting for my eye doctor- still with a gleam of hope.
Monday the 19th. Eye doctor- everything is great she signs off my forms for R.I dmv to renew my license. Now is the fun part- finding a Notary. Truck all over downtown Chicago – finally find one on Tuesday that is open.
Tuesday the 20th. ‘I’m sorry miss, we need a photo I.D to notarize this Document.’
Right about then is when I lost all hope.
I write this today on Thursday the 22nd. Almost a month after my life was shamelessly stolen from me with a simple cell-phone and a camera on my 28th birthday.
The garbage men to clean out my house are coming on Saturday. The movers will be here on the 28th. My plane was supposed to be leaving this place on the 29th. I still have no I.D , soon no home, and will be among those who simply fell through the cracks. Unless by a sheer act of God my transcripts from Seattle get here by tomorrow- and they are good enough- for the S.S office to take them- to prove I am in essence Me.
To make a long story short, I have learned by this whole encounter we pay far too much for federal employee wages in taxes. None of them can help you figure out where to begin if you are unknown – in good health- from out of state- and an orphan with no high-school education. My favorite thing in this whole ordeal that was said to me by one of the ladies in the S.S office was ‘Go up to the hospital and check yourself in for something then bring us those files. Oh wait- never mind you need I.D to get checked into the hospital.”
So for those of you- who carry more than 1 photo I.D – please stop, only carry one piece. Don’t wind up like me if you aren’t easily able to access Hospital records, school transcripts or an employee badge or I.D. If you have a DL and a passport, don’t carry both on you. If you carry your SS card on you- stop this instant. If you think a Birth certificate will get you anywhere- It won’t. If you think City Hall, DMV, SS office or any other sort of city or Gvt. Run office will be able to tell you where to begin. They Can’t. But I will tell you now- start with yourself. Cover your butt keep your ss card in a safe place at home. Keep a copy of your hospital records and or school records for yourself at home. It takes up to 4 weeks ( yes I said 4!!) to get your S.S card replacement. And that’s if you go on the first trip with everything they want. I’m on week 4 just trying to get everything they want.
Take police advise and when you go out, keep a hand on your wallet (or purse if you will) . or don’t carry one at all carry cash or atm/id in a pocket in your pants. I’ve found who you are means nothing- but the numbers attached to your identity means everything.
Ironically I have to look at this whole thing and laugh because if I don’t I am very likely to go ‘postal’ though, if you see me on the freeway hitching for a ride home to Seattle around the 29th.. please give me a ride. And don’t ask for my I.D.
****This has been sent to Letters to the Editor of The Chicago Sun Times, and Tribune. Hopefully- it will see its light of day. If not, maybe someone here on **LC** will read it and learn from my experience.
Thanks for every one who knows about whats been goin on with me since then and for all the moral support.
Mel Anderson
