Scary Run

Yesterday my friend Jenna sent me an email about a little 4 year old girl who was abducted from her mom at a Sam's club. Thanks to the quick acting of the store employees, the girl was found unharmed in the bathroom (but her hair was half shaven, she was only in her underwear, there was a wig and a pair of different clothes next to her). Since I read that email I've had a new found energy to protect Zoe no matter what.

So this has been on my mind. And this morning when I was just starting my run I realized that I didn't have my cell phone with me. Just a minor annoyance...what if Mike calls? What if I fall down and need help? Not really a big deal. If Mike calls then I'll just call him back when I get home and if I fall there are plenty of other runners/walkers/bicyclists/cars/people who could hear me from their houses/etc. Also, I noticed that I didn't have the phone with me after I had already gotten Zoe buckled into the stroller, had my ipod on, and was ready to hit the pavement.

So as I was just finishing my warm up walk and about to start running I noticed a guy heading my way who was obviously none of the above mentioned protectors. He was wearing jeans and a t-shirt and was carrying a plastic walmart type bag in one hand and a squirt bottle of some type in the other hand. I had a bad feeling about him right away. Why didn't I just turn around and go back to my car?!?! I noticed that he was spraying things with the spray bottle and--the electrical boxes, the trash cans, and I thought maybe he was just spraying for bugs. As he was getting closer to us I kept walking, then as he was walking past me and Zoe HE POINTED THE BOTTLE AT ME AND SPRAYED! What?! He sprayed it in my face! I couldn't believe it. My first instinct was to drop-kick him but then I remembered I had Zoe with me...and I'm not very strong...and I don't even know how to do a drop-kick. So what came out of my mouth? I loudly exclaimed, "Excuse me!" In a 'you should be ashamed of yourself' tone. (I'm kind of embarrassed that that's the best I could come up with) He kept walking but when I said that he smiled, turned around, and sprayed me again (the back of me)! OH MY GOSH! What do I do? I don't have my phone with me. I still don't have any pepper spray (I can't find it anywhere...where do you buy that stuff?!).

I quickly moved away from the guy and as I licked my lips to see if the stuff tasted poisonous (it didn't) I checked Zoe to see if any had gotten on her. It didn't. She was covered by the stroller's visor. I was SO mad. I wish I had my phone with me so I could call 9-1-1! He was headed right towards a park where there was what seemed to be a pre-school having a 'park day' there. What was in that bottle? And what was in that bag? And why did he spray me with it? And why didn't Mike get me nunchucks for Mother's Day?! I got a quick glimpse of the bottle and it looked a lot like a red Resolve bottle. But the stuff didn't have a taste and I don't have any kind of rash so I'm hoping it was just water. But then why was he spraying the trash cans and electrical stuff with water? Weirdo.

Anyways, so he was headed toward that park where all the kids where, but also where my car was. So I couldn't turn around and go back to my car. So I kept going (at this point I was definitely running). I wanted to give the guy time to finish spraying all the trash cans??? and leave before I got back. So I ran...well, I end up walking most of the way. I couldn't concentrate. I was so worried about all those other kids. I needed to protect them somehow but I couldn't because I didn't have my phone with me. And I needed to protect Zoe so I couldn't go back there.

I took it really easy on my run. I mostly walked. I wanted to have enough energy at the end to sprint if I saw the guy again.

And I prayed like I've never prayed before.

As I was nearing the park, at the end of my run, I was getting REALLY nervous. I saw this lady up ahead walking her dogs. I kind of sped up a little bit so I could catch up to her (but not too close because I didn't want her to think that I was a weirdo) so that we could be a team if the guy showed up again. I figured that 2 dogs, 2 women, and a baby could do some damage. Right? Well, I never saw that guy again. And the kids at the park were fine.

I have never gotten Zoe out of the stroller, into her carseat, thrown the stroller into the car, locked the doors, and sped off so fast in my life.

I called the police when I got home and they went out there to try to locate the guy but they didn't see him. Argh.

I will never leave the house again without my phone.

I'm buying some mace today.