So I’ve been taking a break…Working in the office, doing some home improvement stuff…I’ve also been reading. One of the books I’ve been reading is The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner. I plan to post about it when I get back to blogging–Lord willing. It’s really good. It’s about a young woman–a stripper, actually– who encounters a stalker.
Now this is going to sound very dramatic, especially in light of The Mars Room and a previous post I wrote about strippers, I realize that. Nonetheless I’m going to give you the rundown because it’s creepy and…well, just in case…
Yesterday, I went to the greenway to walk. I’m cautious, especially when I go by myself. No big deal. I’m cognizant of my surroundings–that kind of stuff.
So, I pull into a parking space and I notice that there’s a car that is backed into the parking spot, not unusual, per say, but it was the only car parked like that–a black 4-door BMW–and there’s a guy sitting in it. I get out of my vehicle and walk to the trashcan to throw away a coke can and the guy gets out of the BMW and heads for the greenway. He walks right by me and the way he’s dressed, cargo pants and casual shirt, is not typical greenway attire. I’m just sayin’. But he is wearing running shoes.
I stop there at the trashcan and watch him as he walks down the greenway. I make no bones about it. I’m watching him—and right before he disappears from my view, he looks over his shoulder at me. He’s an ordinary looking guy–about 6 ft. tall, dark hair that’s graying, normal weight, probably late thirties, early forties. He’s talking on his cell phone.
I decide not to walk on the greenway. I go someplace else to exercise. And that’s that.
Okay…So later, after I go back home, do a bunch of bookwork, make lunch, do some reading (yes, The Mars Room) I remember that my husband asked me to pick up some lottery tickets for tonight’s drawing. (Yeah, we’re playing Mega Millions with Megaplier. It’s up to about 2 billion dollars now so we just had to get in on it.) I needed to pick up some dog food so I decide to purchase the lottery tickets at the grocery store.
Anyway, I go to the store and get the dog food and some other stuff but you can’t purchase the lottery tickets from the check out line, you have to go to the manager’s desk, so that’s what I do. There’s nobody there.
“I’ll be right with you ma’am,” the manager calls to me. He’s sacking groceries for a cashier.
“No problem,” I say, “I’m not in any hurry.”
So I lean against the desk and I’m just thinking…about stuff I’ve got to do…about that mountain of bookwork…about how there’s no chance in hell that we’re going to win 2 billion dollars in Mega Million with Megaplier…and I turn around to see if the manager’s still sacking groceries…and that guy, the one at the greenway with the cargo pants, is standing right behind me. I’m not kidding. He’s just standing there, with this blank look on his face.
Well, of course, it startles me, but I play it off. I just shake my head and chuckle–and that’s an authentic reaction. I mean, who would think it…And if this guy is a weirdo…well, what he doesn’t know could hurt him…
And I want him to know that.
May God’s hand of protection be over you! That is creepy. Whenever my wife’s spidey sense goes off I trust it, even if a feel nothing. She has a good track record.
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Thank you. Yes, I believe in the power of God’s intervention. Very much so…It’s creepy. Hopefully, just a coincidence…that’s what my husband says. Probably right, but my antenna is up.
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I hope it’s just an odd coincidence too!
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Seems like too much of a coincidence to actually be one. Sometimes, you have to trust that sixth sense. I hope that’s the last you see of him.
Good luck with the lottery! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Yeah…I think so too, Pete. That said, I do read and watch a lot of crime stuff so maybe I’m just being paranoid. That’s what my husband thinks.
Oh, we matched two numbers on the lottery! We are in pool with millions and millions of other people to win a truck! So keep you fingers crossed…Ha! (Tongue in cheek, here. I’m Southern, but not that Southern.)
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I do the lottery here, a regular online entry. It doesn’t offer the billions that your one does, but I do it from habit. The most I have won is £25. 🙂
Good luck with that truck!
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Welcome back!!😊😊❤
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Not back yet…Just posting on this weird incident that bothered me. It’s kind of therapeutic and it’s empowering to put it out there.
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Oh. :’D
You’re right. It’s always a respite to share things out on the blogosphere. You don’t have to worry about what people might think (at least it is to me :D)
Again, hope you’d make it back soon!
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I pray for you too Pam that this person does not show up by you again because you should not have to feel so nervous like that. One of my friends has a relative in a small town in the South (not in Tennessee though). I think it may have been Arkansas or Alabama one of the two. The area was actually a smaller part of the state and this person kept bumping into this other person, who unbeknownst to each other, were thinking the same thing. Later on, they both bump into each other and said “stop following me” in unison and they were just both stunned. They reportedly laughed off each other and the incident, but al least it was coincidence. Hopefully, that will be the same for you If you go out to a store or someplace again. Anyway, here is hoping for the best and keep up the great work as always 🙂
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Yeah, I hope I’m just being paranoid. Probably am.
So, the earlier the better for me tonight. Before 6 would be great…
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“So, the earlier the better for me tonight. Before 6 would be great…”
If you are talking about finishing up the Kathryn Bigelow post with that last sentence, I am afraid I will be out today seeing that new Halloween movie so we might have to sadly postpone it again. If you want to do it tomorrow or Sunday, we can do that 🙂 Let me know 🙂
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Cool. I can do it tomorrow. Around 6 is good for me…
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Sounds good 🙂
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I do not believe in coincidences, and I don’t think a person can be too careful, especially women. Glad you listened to your gut and didn’t walk the greenway.
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Thanks. Haven’t seen him since, but I’ve been on the lookout.
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Its sort of strange….I get hyper wary when I walk if I see dogs,I carry pepper spray with me but it never seems a big enough of a can,I find myself wishing I had bear spray instead.
But I’m with the others when I say trust your instincts.
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Oh…I love dogs. But I know what you mean. I especially don’t want to see charging dogs when I’m walking. I use to carry a golf club.
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