Father knows best…
January 20th, 2009 at 10:37 pm (Uncategorized)
Do you ever have one of those moments where something your parent told you that you thought was a bit ridiculous and paranoid turns out to be true? Today, I found myself thinking how good of advice I once got…
So I’m in one the more well-to-do suburbs of Cleveland, one we are kind of looking to move to if/when we buy a house. I’m stopped at a major red light, meaning I’m there for 3 minutes or so.
I’m second in line, with a pickup in front of me and a city bus pulls up behind me. I’m minding my business, fiddling with the radio, when I look up to see an older gentleman in a stocking hat and jacket, wearing glasses and gloves, walk in front of my car. He has kind of a wild, mentally deranged look in his eyes, and before I can react, he’s opening the driver’s side door. I head someone say leave her out this, and see a 30-40 something black guy in a bus driver’s uniform, and the old guy is looking at me, trying to get me to get out. I manage to finally get the door handle out of the guys hand and shut my door, and do what I should have done before I left work, LOCK MY DOORS. I’m trying to move around the truck in front of me to get out of there when the light finally turns, and the old guy is still trying to get in my car, so I speed off.
A background on the bus – you pay when you get on the bus, so this guy had to have paid already. Plus a driver isn’t going to get all the way out of the bus to chase down a 85 cent fare. So this old guy did something bad enough to piss off a bus driver to the point he got off the bus. After seeing the case scenarios at work, I can imagine lots of scenarios.
Also, I saw the old guy run across the road, and the bus chased him down. The bus had been in the straight/turn right lane, and chased the guy by making a left from the wrong lane. So now I’m curious what he did and if I need to let someone know what I saw going on? But man, it was weird.
So Dad telling my in St. Cloud MN to always lock my car doors, especially in big towns with stoplights, was right. I’m just glad I have a funny story to tell rather than a scary one.
Holli said,
January 20, 2009 at 10:57 pm
*I* think it’s scary! Maybe you should try to contact the City transit and let them know, in case that guy did something that they’re involving the police on?
Glad you and your car are OK.
favorite mother in law said,
January 21, 2009 at 12:23 am
Glad you are ok and yes I agree with your dad always lock your doors! I have never had this happened to me because I live in God’s land not God forsaken land! :> Glad you are safe and sound. Maybe you should take some martial arts lessons or something. Keep safe.
Tony said,
January 21, 2009 at 2:04 am
Sounds scary to me too. But maybe since the guy was an older man you must have thought you could take him.
Justin Kaiser said,
January 21, 2009 at 7:46 pm
First the weirdo trying to get into your aparment and now a weirdo trying to carjack you…the action just follows you all over.
Justin Kaiser said,
January 21, 2009 at 7:49 pm
http://www.taser.com/products/consumers/Pages/C2.aspx
Kristin Haggerty said,
January 24, 2009 at 12:04 am
That is not a funny story! Very scary! DJ always though it was a little silly when I would lock the car doors but this gives me all the more reason. I would call the police and let them know. Thank God you are okay!
m!les said,
January 24, 2009 at 12:38 pm
I was kinda hoping for some neck-stomp action. But I agree with the group; you’re story is still pretty scary. Though, you might have a more macabre sense of humor than we do.
Alicia said,
January 26, 2009 at 11:06 pm
Yikes! Now I feel better for locking my doors. I have even locked it when I get pulled over by the authorities-you never know. Not that I ever break the law–whoops! Stay safe, somebody’s watching out for you.
Tyler Rolfes said,
January 31, 2009 at 8:54 am
In Russia, you don’t chase bus, bus chase you!
Sue said,
February 2, 2009 at 12:18 am
I’m glad everything turned out all right. You are a brave lady.
Chris S. said,
February 24, 2009 at 2:19 pm
That’s why I stay away from big cities!
david said,
April 20, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Wow, I’d start taking karate.
Justin said,
May 16, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Father also knows that you need a new post.