I Am a Madoff Victim

http://www.coolmom.com || This has been the hardest blog post for me to do. When I vlogged about my miscarriage that was challenging, but this has other layers to it. By revealing about how we were robbed, how we are part of possibly the largest financial fraud in US History, I am not only disclosing my own life, but the life of my family. I didn't blog about this before for many reasons. Chief was absolute shock. Then, it was too painful to discuss except with very close friends. I still have some friends I haven't told. Sometimes it exhausts me too much to do so. Then when I wanted to blog about it, my husband didn't want me too. I think like anyone who has either been in mourning or been the victim of a crime there are the stages you go through. For me this was both. We were robbed. Someone sits in jail right now because of what has happened to us and thousands of others. And it has altered the trajectory of my life. Many assumptions that I made are no longer valid. To have a secure retirement gave me a buoyancy I no longer possess. I would like that back.

I also didn't want to blog about it if it was just for me to vent. I didn't start this online adventure to be a Dear Diary, but I have been touched by comments that some of you have made on this site about your own struggles with the economy. So, I thought maybe by doing this we could help each other through a historical low. One of my initial reactions when we heard that our money was gone was to beat myself up and my husband. We should have been more diversified ( we were, but not enough), we should have done this or that. And it did help when we realized that we were not part of a small fund like we had been led to believe, but a world wide one where people more savvy or richer than us were also robbed. Mort Zuckerman, Kevin Bacon, Steven Spielberg. And also better people than us, Elie Wiesel (who steals from Holocaust survivors?!) I also started to hear from friends and neighbors how they too thought they might need to sell their house or move in with relatives, and it was for other reasons than our own, a real estate deal gone south, unemployment.

So, going forward I'm in a sense catching you all up with what I have been personally struggling with for the last 6 months. There is so much to say about this. But I'm still going to have some funny blogs and funny videos, because my whole life comedy has meant a great deal to me. It is healing (remind me to tell you about doing improv for chronic pain patients), and it has dictated my entire career to me. And like the saying goes, tragedy plus time equals comedy.

Have you heard about the pregnant lady who found out she had been robbed? Ah, yeah, not funny yet.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• video
• blog
• cool mom
• daphne brogdon
• mom
• mommy
• bernard
• bernie
• madoff
• scam
• money
• investment
• investments

[maureen1002]

Thanks for sharing... I can see this was very hard for you. Your baby is BEAUTIFUL... try to remind yourself for what you are lucky for instead of dwelling on that terrible tragedy. God knows good, and he will carry you through these hard times. You will begin to build a nest egg again, and you will be that much more careful with how you invest. You are a strong woman and a beautiful mother :) Keep your head up high and don't worry... everything will work out!! Thanks again for sharing!

[jbean0]

You seem like a rather intelligent woman and I'm sure your family will be just fine. I have no doubt you will find a way to get back on your feet!

[Hoopermazing]

@onecoolgreek I hope that you are right. If it ever happens, I will be buying gold like a mad man!

[Hoopermazing]

How did you not know it was a ponzy scheme? The returns Madoff promised were absurd. He knew his people's weakness--naked avarice--and he ass-fucked you without benefit of lubrication.

[abonawas]

@maureen1002 yeah thats a sad thing when you lose money with a firm that invested thier money which is your money with madoff.......i invested with madoff 1500000 dollars and withdrew the money inafter one yr....thats in 2001 when i persistently asked them to tell me about where my money was invested and how....ignoring my questions and brushing me off was the decider and i pulled out all....i am willing to give back the 150 grand i made to charity if need be but not to any of the victims

[ThEbAnDPeRrY01]

sounds bad but what do you meen?

[ranedae]

My heart goes out to you. I've never had so much to lose, but as a person working hard to build wealth now, it seems that if you've done it once, you can do it again! What a valuable lesson to be able to share with your children, too, about moving on and being strong in the face of adversity.

[imyourhustler]

Sucker. I would never give a joo my money. Ruth is living the high life with your retirement money right now. Every second of every day.

[agat0r]

Cry me a river. When you trust a man with your money, there are risks. You got taken because you are a sucker. BTW, if you need finacial help, I know someone in Africa who will give you millions. Their father was a prince or something and they need help cashing their inheritance. Just send them your bank info.

[u2berz]

@doomheart2001 don't be angry, kid. i'm sure you'll find a friend one day.. or maybe just kill yourself already, the world obviously hates you.. =D

[u2berz]

@doomheart2001 and your a little nerd that is going no where in life. ask your mommy to lick her cunt while you slit a razor in the veins in your wrist. die you piece of shit, your parents hate you! they wish they had an abortion.