If you asked me 10 years ago if having to walk around the corner at night would be such a big "to do" I would have thought you were crazy. Last night I had to walk around the corner to meet the tow truck guy who was picking up my truck because my starter went. I would say it is a 1/4 mile walk on a well lit busy road. I can't explain to you the overwhelming fear I had. First off-to have to walk around the corner alone at night, and secondly to meet a strange man in a parking lot by myself. I am going to share my thoughts and actions with you, although you might think I'm insane afterwards.
1. I called my mother to tell her where I was going in case something happened to me someone knew my where abouts.
2. I thought about bringing my ID, just in case, but was torn because I didn't want to bring my whole purse.
3. Although I could have gotten there in less than half the time by cutting through the apartments, I went all the way around the long way to stay in well lit, busy areas.
Here's comes the psycho.....
4. I walked with the biggest key on my key chain clutched between my fingers in stab-ready position.
After he put the truck on the lift, and I paid him, I cringed at thoughts that he may ask me if I needed a ride home. He didn't. Feeewwww...I gave him $80.00 in cash-although it was $75.00, I didn't have correct change for one, and for two, where I come from, we tip everybody. I see in my experience here in the south that alot of people aren't allowed to even accept gratuity in that form. There's nothing like "greasing someones palm" in the North, sometimes it's a life saver. So, I walk away, he's pulling away, and I hear him put the truck in park, and get out and call out to me. My stomach hit the ground. I think I broke a sweat. All he wanted to do was give me $5.00 in change. What is wrong with me? This guy is trying to do his job, and I'm thinking I'm in grave danger. I remember being a kid in the 70's/80's, and walking to school with my brother and sister's without a care. I remember going out on my bicycle after school, and as long as I was home by dinner-it was all good. In this day and age I'm labeling every jogger, walker, and tow truck driver as a serial killer. Doesn't that make you sad? And the point of the whole story is that what I did last night could definitely be considered foolish and negligent. My sister flipped out on my mother for not stopping me from going. "MA...THIS ISN'T THE 50'S MA!!!" That's a little New York thrown out there for you compliments of my Big sis. Well as you can see I made it home in one piece, but I probably will never do something like that again. I think I lost a year of my life last night.
1 comment:
i dont think your crazy, insane or psycho!!!! (in regards to this-hahhahaha)this IS the times coll! and re re is right, its not the friggen 50's nor the 70's or 80's like our fondest memories of growing up.....i think we are somewhat programmed to look over our shoulders at all times these days: between the crime rates and the fear of death the media puts in ya-FOR THE LOVE!!!!! i was a lil more prepped (living under pops roof my whole lifeand him working in the city AKA slum AKA sewer) as you already know, i was NOT allowed to the mall at least until i graduated high school, of course i rebelled at times but even then at 18, or now at 37 if he had his way, i'd be forbidden..... god forbid he knew we went into the woods at nitetime....took trips to the city, on the train (bad one) and walked home from parties after dark OMG poor pop!
it does sadden me though.... our kids do not have that carefree sense or at least as much as we DID....and i say DID because as the times have changed, we have too!!!! like you said home by dinner, sometimes we were out roaming around for hours on end without a care in the world NOW: i think i've instilled the same fear you felt that nite into my kids, on a daily basis its almost a paranoia. i think i want them to KNOW everything that CAN happen but i dont want them to KNOW-now I sound effin nuts!!!! hahaha well, i guess its age appropriate awareness but figuring out when and what is my problem, sometimes i feel like i'm being cruel by making them aware of a certain something, and at times i wonder if i'm being neglectful if i dont!!!!
one last sidenote: besides the times are changing coll, these things also come with age ya know!!!! (we DO live in a pretty scary world tho) luv ya dawnie
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