Damn...

[mousme]

I have involuntarily committed... I don't know what to call this.

I was cleaning out my purse today, and came across an envelope full of money. It's not mine. It says: "Aux auxiliaires: signez cartes pour le décès de la mère à Micheline Poirier. + contribution volontaire."

Translation: "To the auxiliary staff: sign condolence cards for the death of Micheline Poirier's mother. + voluntary contribution."

I must have picked it up somewhere by mistake this week, but I can't for the life of me figure out where it came from! I called work, and there's no one there by that name, so I can't have accidentally picked it up there.

That means that somewhere between, I dunno, last week and today, somewhere during my many many errands, I picked up someone's little fundraising to give a nice present to a grieving woman.

There are no words to express just how distressed I am by this. I've tried calling at the various places I've been, but it's too early as yet to call. I am SO upset! This is the last thing I would have wanted.

Thank God the cards aren't in here too. I'd be even more upset. The person collecting the money is probably really upset too, and angry either at herself for losing the envelope or angry at the person she thinks was horrible enough to steal it.

This sucks.

:::ETA at 10:40:::

Okay.

I've called all the places where I ran errands this week. No Micheline Poirier works anywhere I've been.

I've placed classified ads on Craigslist and Kijiji, and in the Montreal Mirror.

I've checked all the obits (English and French) for a Micheline Poirier listed as Next of Kin.

There are 93 "M. Poirier" listed in the Montreal area. I don't think it's realistic of me to call them all concerning this. Especially as that doesn't include Laval or the South Shore, which could also easily apply in this case.

Any other ideas?

:::Further ETA at 11:20:::

Have emailed Mix 96 with a request for assistance. No idea what that'll turn up.

Called most of the local CLSCs and so forth to check on their employees.

Sent a request for information to the Urgel Bourgie funeral home, too.

I think it's time for me to go to bed now.

Comments

[tx-cronopio.livejournal.com]

How distressing! Google lists her at a salon in Trois Rivieres, could that be her?

[mousme.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately not (I googled her too). Trois-Rivières is a good two-hour drive from Montreal.

I am currently calling all places I went to this week. So far no luck. :(

[fearsclave.livejournal.com]

Micheline Poirier is so common a name in Quebec there are probably dozens of her.

[tx-cronopio.livejournal.com]

Ah, see, that's the problem with weighing from Texas. I did not know that was a common name :)

[joenotcharles.livejournal.com]

Just think how happy they'll be to get it back, though! Not losing money is just business as usual - thinking somebody stole it and then having it unexpectedly returned is the kind of thing that reaffirms one's faith in humanity.

[mousme.livejournal.com]

I really hope I find them!

[sorceror.livejournal.com]

+1.

[toughlovemuse.livejournal.com]

Try searching for an obit in the papers, perhaps? Some papers keep those kinds of things online, so you might want to start there.

[toughlovemuse.livejournal.com]

Here is the link for the La Presse one. You can do a search there. I'd do it for you but Work won't let me submit any info (GRRN).

http://necrologie.cyberpresse.ca/

[mousme.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I checked the obits, both French and English. Her name isn't listed as NOK or anything. :(

[toughlovemuse.livejournal.com]

*sigh* And of course last name searches wouldn't help in Quebec, of course.

*tries to think of a way to figure it out...*

[fearsclave.livejournal.com]

I'd suggest pretty much exactly what it sounds like you're doing already. Good luck!

[owldaughter.livejournal.com]

Try posting to the lost & found listings on Craigslist and Kijiji. You don't have to be specific about money -- who knows what nutjobs you'd get replying -- just say "FOUND: an envelope marked 'Aux auxiliaires: signez cartes pour le décès de la mère à Micheline Poirier. + contribution volontaire.' Contents intact."

I really hope you find her. I'd hate for someone to think they'd lost the money or had it stolen.

[mousme.livejournal.com]

Posted to Craigslist already.

Will see what I can do with Kijiji.

[owldaughter.livejournal.com]

It may not have been someone who worked there; someone visiting, like you, may have accidentally put it down with other documents they were carrying/taking out of a bagand not picked it up again. Did you leave your contact info with the places you called in case someone calls looking for it? (You probably did, I'm just being thorough.)

[mousme.livejournal.com]

Yep. :)

[elanya.livejournal.com]

D: Good luck! I'd feel pretty awful too I think, but mixups happen :x

Suckage, but some ideas to help?

[le-maistre-e.livejournal.com]

May seem strange, but check hospitals or CLSCs in the area of your errands? "Auxiliaire", as you know, is a nurse's aide. They may be able to help, particularly CLSCs or CHLSDs.

Also, and it's a bit creepy, but call funeral homes? They would have to have the information, with at least her name, on file somewhere...

If it helps, there is an Alfred D'Allaire funeral home on Notre Dame, close to a CLSC (St Henri), which is connected to the CLSC in Lachine. I am mentioning this because my current ground-floor tenant works out of both centers, as an auxiliaire, and they are both in your general area of errand-running, I believe.

Good luck, you sweet, sweet person.

Re: Suckage, but some ideas to help?

[mousme.livejournal.com]

Actually, I didn't know that an "Auxiliaire" was a nurse's aid. I'll try calling the local CLSCs and CHLSDs.

Thanks!

[sorceror.livejournal.com]

Ask Mix96 to help. Surely they can help get the general word out (both themselves, and through contacts with other radio stations) and see what happens. After all, they're indirectly involved... I'm sure they'd want to set it right too.

Another brain storm

[le-maistre-e.livejournal.com]

Also, if you're a member of montreal, the members there are pretty good at getting the word out... Someone may even recognize some of the details.

If you're not a member, email me the most you can remember, especially the details on the envelope, which I will edit for security purposes.

elizabeth.lemaistre@hrgworldwide.com

Again, best of luck et bon courage!!

[taxlady.livejournal.com]

(((hugs))) and good luck.

[silly-imp.livejournal.com]

How odd. "Auxiliares" makes me think of a hospital or volunteers...

[whiskeygirl8.livejournal.com]

I have to know if you found the person it belongs to! (If you've posted about it since this post, then just ignore me. I'll read it shortly. I'm a little behind.)

Aux Auxiliares...

[ankhorite.livejournal.com]

Can you post an update for your breathless fans?