Pay attention to your surroundings

Here’s another random story, a few moments in my life, hopefully funny to more than just me.

Years ago I worked in the office of a landscape company. Sometimes I would be called to come drive a truck for a crew that no one had a license. We worked all across the Atlanta area, in and around it, no place was off limits as long as they paid their bill.

One day we were in a “less than ideal” part of town (drugs, prostitution, illegal activity of all sorts), which can be unsettling – if one is paying attention. I wasn’t. I wanted something to drink and so did my boss. Practically skipping to be out of the office and in the sunshine (la, la, la), I walked across the street to the convenience store. I said an obnoxiously cheery “HEY!” to the motley crew (a few obviously talking to themselves and needing a bath in a bad way) hanging around outside. I walked in (la, la, la), I got our drinks (hmmmm, do I want Coke or Sprite) and went to pay. (What the h*ll!?) The cashier was behind BULLET PROOF GLASS and had a strange look on his face as I paid. Well, alrighty then. Back to la, la, la and across the street I go. I get in the truck with my boss. She is a 5’4 “, 95lbs soaking wet, lady who thinks she is a 6’4”, 250lb man. I’m 5”8”, lots heavier, and can hold my own but I’m still a girl. Anyway, she had forgotten something so we had to go back in to the apartment complex they were working in – a “gated” community (gates falling down, obviously not functional) with one officer (maybe the same size as my boss) watching inbound and outbound traffic that included people in vehicles and on foot. We are about to go through the gate, I’m chatting away and continuing to be oblivious to the possibility of any danger or any need to be more aware. Her face changes and she slams the truck in to park. I turn and see the gate officer being beaten by several men. My boss is yelling that she is calling the police, she pulls out a gun, and I fling the door open and start to get out. There is no doubt in my mind that I would have been in the middle of that mess if it weren’t for the fact that my seatbelt was still on. The moments it took me to get my seatbelt off gave me time to realize that it was 8-10 men, BIG and tall men, men with bats and other weapons, and a crowd that saw nothing wrong with just watching it all. (Um, I think I’ll stay INSIDE the truck!) My boss opens her door like she is getting out. I tell her “oh no you don’t!” so she yells at them again that the police are on their way and they stop. We wait a minute to see if we can help the officer, he assures us he is fine (obviously not) and we go on into the complex as the police arrive. Why we didn’t have to stay to give a statement or anything I don’t know but I was really happy to get out of there!

This story (like the lipstick story) still makes me laugh as the visual of me reacting like I was going jump in the middle and save that man is just too funny. Big, bad, Kathy to the rescue! lol