The Changing World (one bad apple...)
It's Halloween again. The kids are having fun in their costumes. Parents are all out talking with each other, it's just a great time for everyone in the neighborhood.
When it got dark, we'd always leave the candy we had left to distribute on the porch, like many other families on my block, Just after dark, a few kids came by, and we told them that the candy was right next to them. The little kids put their hands in and were grateful, and said \"thank you.\" We watched them walk to the next house.
A few minutes later, I walked out on the porch to enjoy the night air. My wife came out and asked where I hid the candy. I didn't touch it. It ends up that someone not only took the candy that was left, but the container it was in. This happened to several houses on our block in a matter of minutes. I looked up and down the block, but saw nobody.
It's not the money that was spent on the candy (approx $40) and about half was left, it's the fact that some a$$ took it upon him/herself to take everything, including the containers/bowls/etc. that the candy was in. The fact that it happened on our block (a very tight knit group) was the part that hurt.
Maybe it's my bitterness, or just shock, but I think it's a changing world. I wish I could say that it's changing for the better.
When it got dark, we'd always leave the candy we had left to distribute on the porch, like many other families on my block, Just after dark, a few kids came by, and we told them that the candy was right next to them. The little kids put their hands in and were grateful, and said \"thank you.\" We watched them walk to the next house.
A few minutes later, I walked out on the porch to enjoy the night air. My wife came out and asked where I hid the candy. I didn't touch it. It ends up that someone not only took the candy that was left, but the container it was in. This happened to several houses on our block in a matter of minutes. I looked up and down the block, but saw nobody.
It's not the money that was spent on the candy (approx $40) and about half was left, it's the fact that some a$$ took it upon him/herself to take everything, including the containers/bowls/etc. that the candy was in. The fact that it happened on our block (a very tight knit group) was the part that hurt.
Maybe it's my bitterness, or just shock, but I think it's a changing world. I wish I could say that it's changing for the better.
Comments
I was a kid once..so I know what they are capable of even under the best of circumstances. I also know other kids from broken homes and having less supervision, yet are the most trustworthy. Good and bad..G vs E..always around!!
The betterment of society is based upon two things..our supervision and our involvement. many speak out..never do or have done a thing to change it. That's where the problem is.
After sleeping on it, I realized that, as a kid, (at the very least) I probably would have taken more than my share if I had seen out there. The fact that it never happened before was just luck.
I got over it quickly. I think I was more upset over the \"end of the innocence\" for Halloween in my meighborhood.
Had I waited until this morning to write this, it would have never been posted in the first place.
Maybe you ought to have a neighbor like mine.. Let's just call him \"Bob\"...
When we were evacuting for hurricane Rita, saw lights on at \"Bob's\" house. Decided the neighborly thing to do was to let \"Bob\" know we were leaving and to check on him and to see if he needed anything..
\"Bob\" is a retired grunt... He also has a son who is an active marine, who at the time was on leave from Iraq. When I knocked on the door \"Bob\" and \"Bob Jr.\" were in their cammies with the most awesome selection of firepower, laid out on the living room floor, that I had seen in a long time...
We're talking M16's, 50 cal. sniper rifles, a wide collection of handguns, shotguns, etcc...... \"Bob\" informed me that the women and children of his household had evacuated to safer ground, but that he and \"Bob Jr.\" would be staying behind to protect his property from looters.....
\"Bob\" also offered to protect my property as well. I told him...
\"If someone is trashing my place you have my permission to drop them in their tracks and leave them their as a warning to others.\"
\"Bob\" smiled and said \"You betcha!!!\".
My nephew, who is in the Houston police department, called me and offered to go check on my place after the storm blew threw. I told him about \"Bob\" and then suggested if he did check out my place to show up in uniform. My nephew, said it didn't sound like any reason for him to check on my place and it sounded like \"Bob\" had the situation well in hand.
I heartily agreed...
\"Bob\" has quite a reputation in our neighboorhood. Really a nice guy, always looking out for his fellow neighbors and always willing to offer a helping hand.
We experinced no tricks on Halloween nor have he had any burglaries, break ins, or any criminal or mischeivious vandalism in my neighboorhood for the 5 years I have lived here...
I think \"Bob\" may be one of the main reasons...
See Ya,
Tal
Not the same person as my \"Bob\" but the personalities are pretty close.
See Ya,
Tal
d.