Things are getting kind of scary in the quiet neighborhood where we live. Our community has suffered four home invasions over the past two weeks. Yesterday a woman observed a man wearing a mask in her backyard. The man saw her see him and ran off, jumping the fence. Thankfully nobody has been injured, but the intruders have all been armed. All of the home invasions, except one, have occurred within a two mile radius of our house, and they have all happened in the morning hours.
To top things off, a woman was kidnapped at gunpoint from the parking lot of one of our shopping centers this past Monday. They are still looking for her. I had to return some movies to that parking lot late last night. As much as I wanted to, I couldn't get myself to treat it like a normal, ho-hum trip to the movie store.
I feel a bit like Sheriff Giddens in one of my favorite scenes from No Country For Old Men. Specifically referencing the increased crime and drug trafficking that hit El Paso in the early 1980's, but also generally inquiring about the nature of evil, he exclaims "it's the dismal tide" and later, exasperatedly asks "how do you defend against it?" (If I had a copy of the book in front of me I would quote more extensively).
(the scene in question is only the first 1:45; no need to watch all 10 minutes of the clip...though you might just find yourself watching anyway)
As far as I know there are no Anton Chiggurhs running around our town. But I do feel like it's just a sign of worse things to come. If things get worse this year, how far will people go if they are already willing to do this? The Houston economy isn't even hurting that bad (yet).
And, every day as I leave the house, with wife and daughters inside, I ask "how DO you defend against it?" Guns? A big dog? Do you just quit your life and stay at home, holed up all day? Of course I have better answers, but like Sheriff Ed Tom, one feels simultaneously compelled to fight against it, yet ultimately overwhelmed.
Barry Corbin's line at the end of this scene is terrific.
TV: Being Human (U.S.): “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”
31 minutes ago
3 comments:
Put pungi sticks all around your back yard. That ought to do the trick.
All kidding aside, that is scary. Stay safe.
I hate news like that. Sorry bad things have been happening in your neighborhood. We just had someone beaten up - with a pipe, no less - outside the house right behind ours one morning last month. Apparently the suspects knew the victim, and it was some kind of domestic thing that got out of hand, but still... way too close to home for my comfort level. But like you said, what can you do?
I got a disturbing text message the other day from a law enforcement friend here in Houston advising us to watch out for home invasions. That's a scary thought. We do have a new kitchen knife . . . I could also get very tough like Clint Eastwood in Grand Torino and then any potential intruders would be entirely too intimidated to disturb us.
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