In the Fall of 1994, I lived in Washington, DC as part of an internship program. I worked for a lobbying firm and the apartment complex I was living in was where all 150 kids from across the country were living. We had roommates and we all hung out all the time especially since everyone had efficiency apartments.
My recent trip to Washington, DC brought back a lot of memories for me even though the trip went essentially like this -- Union Station, cab, basement of Ritz Carlton, lunch, basement, cab and Union Station.
For example, I spent a lot of time during my internship hanging out with friends at Happy Hour at a dive called Lulu's. The hotel I was stationed at for my meetings was literally across the street from there.
I also remember going out on a date or two at Union Station's movie theater and seeing the Metro system always brings back some incredible memories.
Fun times...
I was also reminded of a time when I did NOT have a good experience in Washington, DC.
Very simply... I was mugged.
The actual story of being mugged isn't any big deal and I was extremely lucky to have the situation result in the way it did.
The apartment complex was located at 4th and G in the Southwest section of the district. This is a borderline location as a couple of blocks south or east and the streets get a bit rougher than need be. The walk to the grocery store was always interesting as it was 2 blocks south. 4 blocks north and you were in the mall and there weren't any stores in that area...so 2 blocks south was all that we had. There is something to be said about the grocery store located at the "Waterfront" Metro station... it couldn't have been that bad if I saw Supreme Court Justice David Souter doing some shopping there.
It was about 10:00 at night and I was in need of a snack... ice cream specifically. I pulled my pocket free seatpants on, grabbed a $5 bill, tucked my identification into my shoe, and set off for a pint of ice cream for me and my date. I stepped out into the cool night air and began walking. Three buildings down, this fella who looked poorer than an African country, jumped out holding a knife and hissed at me. "Give me all your money."
I am always amazed at myself in these types of situations. I was surprisingly under control and I handed him the $5 that I had on me. "It's all I have," I said and I showed him that my hands were empty except for my key. He grabbed the money and ran like the wind.
I suppose that I could have been brave and fought for my $5 but I didn't view it as worth it. I was just happy to get out alive.
The mugging didn't bother me. Take the $5. If you need it that badly, it's yours. I was most bothered and still bothered to this day by how weak I felt afterwards. I walked back up to my room after that and just sat on the couch. It was a feeling of not having any control of anything. What I think was most frightening was the glimmer of light that reflected off of the blade and into my eye. That is the one thing that will stay with me for the rest of my life... I do not remember the man's face. I do remember the reflection of light.
It will always represent a time in my life I can honestly say that I felt as though... my life was in another person's hands.
I don't have any great advice or tremendously moving thoughts about this anymore... except one ...Life is fragile enough... I don't need to lose it over $5.
4 comments:
there was a triple murder in my neighborhood on Sat. A guy with a mental history stabbed both of his parents to death. A neighbor ran over to see what was up and he was stabbed to death too. The neighbors wife is in critical condition. I live in peaceful suburbia, so everyone is in shock and seeing this article made me wince.
I would react the same or worse as you, wondering what could have happened, wondering how many different endings there were. Feeling helpless to the moment.
You gotta be proud of yourself in the end, you chose the right path.
Thanks muh new virtual friend.
As a special sneak preview... Wednesday's article will be about almost getting hit by a car.
Hey Steakbellie....I just read about that in the paper. Just thought I'd offer some....well, just something. I live on the other side of the bridge and we had a similar case about 2 years ago. Mental Health guy (whose family was trying to get him committed, but couldn't because he was over 18 and competent on drugs) killed his mom because she wouldn't buy him cigarettes, then in his hunt to get some, ran across a little boy (8 y.o) in our neighborhood and killed him while he was on his way to the park to play. It was a sad case all around and even more so because it seemed to have been preventable.
As is the case with that, another murder in our neighborhood and an attack on me one night when I was running (well, walking...but it WAS exercise! :)) when I lived in N.C., it becomes a jolt that things like that CAN happen to you and it makes you very wary of even any situation, not just "scary ones", because you know bad things can happen anywhere.
I think in General it is the small mundane decisions we make on a daily basis that decide our fate. Most of these changes are tiny and incrimental.
If you choose to have a gun in the house, suddnely there is the possibility that you will be shot. If you choose to wander the streets drunk, then there are other bad things you may exposed to. You make choices in life that expose you to the good and the bad.
Now sometimes situations are brought upon you. Lets look at Smellmooo's example. That Intersection happened from no real choice of his. Had he chose to fight or run, it may have turned out differently. Had he had POCKETS and not sweatpants the mugger might have disbelieved that he had only $5 and stabbed him.
How do you know to stay out of a Madmans way when you've done everything in your life to go down the right path?
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