The back door to my house was kicked in. I did not know this when I entered the front door. I, as usual, called out "helloooo!" as I walked through the living room in case anyone else was home. I thought I heard a noise but no one answered. So, I proceeded to the kitchen, noticing debris on the floor. Puzzling. Incongruous. If someone spilled a plant on the floor, there should be someone cleaning it up. That's when I noticed the back door wide open with the frame in splinters. My heart paused a beat or two. Then I turned and ran out the front door as fast as possible, grabbing the cell phone from my pocket as I ran. Dialing 911 from the front porch with my heart now pounding I wondered how far away from the house I should be. It was raining so the porch was drier but was I too close to the door if they came out? Who were they? 911 answered; I gave my name and address and said "There's someone in my house. The door's been kicked in." The 911 operator verified my information, including cell number and told me not to go back in until the police arrived.
My body was shaking with the adrenaline from my "fight or flight" response. I wanted to go back in but knew I must not. I could not just stand there waiting so I ran across the street and pounded on my neighbor's door, loudly, until he answered. After telling him what was happening, we walked back to my house and went in. The robbers were gone. When the police came, their opinion was that I had surprised them so they left before taking everything they could have.
The next 8 and 1/2 hours were spent finding new doors and locks and someone to install them. I also notified all of the neighbors by phone, in person, or by email over the next two days. All of my appointments had to be postponed. My routine, though flexible, was in total disarray. Only objects were taken but some of those objects had meaning way beyond monetary value.
As the days have passed, I have noticed more things missing. Things like a pair of earrings given to me by my Mom's best friend, long dead. The coin collection I planned to leave to my nephews and niece. Small things. Precious things. I am grateful that no one was hurt. I feel sad and angry that we have people in our city who are brazen enough to crash through a door in the middle of the day. No respect.
We now have new doors and locks and a nice alarm system. Several new alarm signs now grace the lawns of surrounding homes. My routine is now back to the usual juggling of real estate business, networking, emails, phone calls, family and friends. I couldn't post a blog. There were no words in me. I don't have any photos of my busted door to add to the blog. My heart is not as light as it once was. I'm ready for some warm, sunny days. I'm ready to work in the garden.
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