If you have ever had your purse lost or stolen, you probably can relate to what I’ve gone through these past few days since I lost my purse on May 25.

I’ve known people who have had their purses lost or stolen before, but the reality of someone losing their purse never hits home until you lose your own. Losing your purse with all of your credit cards, check book, driver’s license, Social Security card, money, keys, cell phone and other personal items is an awful, heart-wrenching and agonizing feeling.

On Monday, Memorial Day, I visited Natchez Market No. 1 on John R. Junkin Drive to buy a few grocery items. I shop at this store frequently because it’s convenient and is close to my home. It was at this store that I lost my purse somewhere between putting my bags in my truck and returning the buggy to the cart rack. For my life’s sake, I don’t know how I lost my purse. I keep asking myself if I left it in the basket or if someone came behind me and took it from the basket as I put my groceries in the back of my truck. I probably will never know how my purse was lost.

Since I had never lost a purse before now, I didn’t know what exactly to do. I’m glad my first response was to call the police after frantically hunting for my purse and not finding it.

The officer who took the call was very kind, thoughtful and helped me in every way she could. I thank her for all she did to help me try and locate my purse.

Since Monday, I’ve had to try to reclaim my identity. There are many things you have to do when you lose your wallet or purse. I canceled all credit cards I had in my possession the day I lost my purse. The banks were closed on Memorial Day so I had to wait until the next day to close my checking account, get a new driver’s license and ask for a new Social Security card.

I worried most about someone using my credit cards, writing checks from my checkbook and possible identity theft. If you ever lose your wallet or purse, you’ll need to take care of these things. You will need to cancel all credit cards and ATM cards that were in your possession at the time of lost or theft.

You will need to call the police or sheriff to open a report. You will need to call Equifax to have fraud alert placed on your account. They have access to your whole credit history. If you had your house keys in your purse, you will need to change the locks on your doors immediately. You will need to report your lost or stolen driver’s license to the DMV and get a new one re-issued. You will also need to register with an identity theft agency to prevent theft identity.

I know there are worse things that could happen to a person, but you do not want to lose your purse or wallet with your whole life in it.

It can be a living nightmare.

I’m still hoping someone will return my purse to me anonymously or in person.

Barbara Crenshaw is a Natchez resident.