Constant Vigilence (aka, What I learned from watching TV)

When I was a kid my father and I bonded over episodes of The Dukes of Hazzard. I, of course, was secretly in love with Bo Duke. One of these famous episodes depicted Luke driving the General Lee and finding a rattlesnake at his feet. That was it for me; I became obsessed about personal security...and I still am.

I soaked in The Gift of Fear like a sponge; it validated everything that I have been doing for years that my friends make fun of me for. If I go out at night alone I won't wear my hair in a ponytail because that is the easiest way for an assailant to grab me. I look in my backseat (and under my car) before I get in it. For old times sake I also glance at the floorboards and give a listen for a snake rattle. I don't walk and talk on my cell phone because I am wary of dividing my attention when I need to be on the look out for attackers.

My phone number is non listed. When I go out on a date I ask the gentleman to meet me at a very brightly lit and very public place. JL and I have a time tested tradition of texting each other the license plate numbers of men we go out with, even though hell would have to freeze over before I got into a car with someone I didn't know very well. (I realize that that isn't going to save me from an act of violence or even death, but I like to leave a bread trail. Also, CSI has taught me that I also need to try to obtain some sort of DNA). Gentlemen callers will not know my address, much less step foot in my house until I have thoroughly interviewed their entire family and run a thorough background check...complete with health screening.

My mother's greatest fear when I was in college was that I'd be raped and "left in a ditch to die". Thanks to Law and Order my (current) greatest fear is that someone will try to steal an organ. More than likely it will be a kidney, but I'm not ruling any body part out. Somebody out there may be looking for a eye or some bone marrow (Disclaimer: My liver is no good).

I keep hearing that all the crime shows are educating criminals and teaching them what not to do. But they are also teaching me what to watch for and in my ever so creative mind I have come up with countless ways to thwart would be attackers.

What I am reading: I am looking at all the pretty pictures in my new cookbook.
What I am listening to: Peaches - I'm The Kinda