wax
07-06-2007, 12:34 PM
I don't know what he was trying to do.
In fact that is what made the the whole situation so... odd.
My wife and I cheated this 4th and sent our youngest to stay with a freind.
I didn't really feal good about it, the 4th is designed to guide our younger generations to a better understanding of sacrifice and... well... my wife decided we had more important things to do.
We were offered a free room at Mystic Lake Casino because of our obvious love for the place.
Our oldest was... maybe... getting a girl to actually think about him by hosting a group by the lake.
He is twenty-one and thus does not see the 4th as an important family gathering any more.
My fifteen year old was with associates, learning important things that associates teach him.
My seven year old was interested in seeing fire works and didn't much care if mom and I went away (he is a strange child that way).
So we went... and there "he" was.
His color isn't important it is the way he acted.
He was outside the hotel when I pulled up but before I even got my ticket for the valet he had sauntered inside.
He made a big mistake though.
He left three empty pop containers next to his spot which meant that he had been sitting there a long time.
By coincidence he gave up on his "ride" just as I pulled up in a van which is impressive to most.
Later as I was playing BlackJack he stood behind me and watched.
Then he was outside the elevator when I went to my room.
I of course waited until the hallway was clear before I actually approached the room I was staying in... it didn't take long, he played his part well (don't be seen, don't be recognized).
But he was there on the casino floor when my elevator opened again.
Predators can be quite funny once you identify them.
But the humor soon leaves when you must ask youself if this force will need to be lethal.
In the end it was sort of a risk.
My wife and I were leaning the building in order to enjoy the fireworks the casino had provided.
He might have been just another customer of that casino.
He might have been just an innocent man who just happened to have been noticed by another paranoid person... just another survivalist who didn't like being followed.
But I had had enough, so I slammed the door on him and called for security.
What would I do if he pressed charges for the damage done to his face?
I didn't really care.
What would I do if he turned out to be just another customer?
I didn't really care.
It turned out that he had was wanted by the police for a number of crimes.
It turned out that he had a stun gun in his jacket that felons are not allowed to carry in Minnesota.
It turned out that the authorities were very happy to see him finally as he was highly sought by any number of districts for any number of crimes.
But what if it hadn't turned out that way?
Well... I would have owed a young man an apology.
I would have explained that coincidence can sometimes prevail.
I wouldn't have seen him for the rest of my stay.
But it is possible... just possible... that he would have been an innocent man who was forced to defend himself.
And I would have spent the holiday in some jail cell.
I have been in one before and I do not look forward to a return.
But I will if the need arrises I guess.
Because there is one thing that is not possible!
I will not allow myself to be a victim.
I will not ignore circumstance as though it were an excuse to be used.
My wife and I enjoyed the presentation and then retired to our room in comfort.
She of course is a bit "put off" by the fact that I had to speak to the police again for a few moments.
That is just part of being my wife I guess.
But I know this much: She walks through life without fear.
And if the potential violence I carry is required to insure that then...
The alternative is not acceptable.
Had that man accomplished whatever it was he was trying to do then... well... he is lucky to be sitting in a cell right now.
So am I.
Lucky.
But my luck is born from observation and a clear understanding of what will be allowed and what will not.
Risk can be a physical thing.
In fact that is what made the the whole situation so... odd.
My wife and I cheated this 4th and sent our youngest to stay with a freind.
I didn't really feal good about it, the 4th is designed to guide our younger generations to a better understanding of sacrifice and... well... my wife decided we had more important things to do.
We were offered a free room at Mystic Lake Casino because of our obvious love for the place.
Our oldest was... maybe... getting a girl to actually think about him by hosting a group by the lake.
He is twenty-one and thus does not see the 4th as an important family gathering any more.
My fifteen year old was with associates, learning important things that associates teach him.
My seven year old was interested in seeing fire works and didn't much care if mom and I went away (he is a strange child that way).
So we went... and there "he" was.
His color isn't important it is the way he acted.
He was outside the hotel when I pulled up but before I even got my ticket for the valet he had sauntered inside.
He made a big mistake though.
He left three empty pop containers next to his spot which meant that he had been sitting there a long time.
By coincidence he gave up on his "ride" just as I pulled up in a van which is impressive to most.
Later as I was playing BlackJack he stood behind me and watched.
Then he was outside the elevator when I went to my room.
I of course waited until the hallway was clear before I actually approached the room I was staying in... it didn't take long, he played his part well (don't be seen, don't be recognized).
But he was there on the casino floor when my elevator opened again.
Predators can be quite funny once you identify them.
But the humor soon leaves when you must ask youself if this force will need to be lethal.
In the end it was sort of a risk.
My wife and I were leaning the building in order to enjoy the fireworks the casino had provided.
He might have been just another customer of that casino.
He might have been just an innocent man who just happened to have been noticed by another paranoid person... just another survivalist who didn't like being followed.
But I had had enough, so I slammed the door on him and called for security.
What would I do if he pressed charges for the damage done to his face?
I didn't really care.
What would I do if he turned out to be just another customer?
I didn't really care.
It turned out that he had was wanted by the police for a number of crimes.
It turned out that he had a stun gun in his jacket that felons are not allowed to carry in Minnesota.
It turned out that the authorities were very happy to see him finally as he was highly sought by any number of districts for any number of crimes.
But what if it hadn't turned out that way?
Well... I would have owed a young man an apology.
I would have explained that coincidence can sometimes prevail.
I wouldn't have seen him for the rest of my stay.
But it is possible... just possible... that he would have been an innocent man who was forced to defend himself.
And I would have spent the holiday in some jail cell.
I have been in one before and I do not look forward to a return.
But I will if the need arrises I guess.
Because there is one thing that is not possible!
I will not allow myself to be a victim.
I will not ignore circumstance as though it were an excuse to be used.
My wife and I enjoyed the presentation and then retired to our room in comfort.
She of course is a bit "put off" by the fact that I had to speak to the police again for a few moments.
That is just part of being my wife I guess.
But I know this much: She walks through life without fear.
And if the potential violence I carry is required to insure that then...
The alternative is not acceptable.
Had that man accomplished whatever it was he was trying to do then... well... he is lucky to be sitting in a cell right now.
So am I.
Lucky.
But my luck is born from observation and a clear understanding of what will be allowed and what will not.
Risk can be a physical thing.