Monday, September 27, 2010

Maybe I am too trusting...

I grew up in what I like to call small town Oregon. A place where you can go to the grocery store in your pjs and you usually run into someone you know. It was a small town where I felt safe in my home, safe out and about, safe running by myself. Growing up we never locked our house except for at night. We didn't lock our cars. I thought this was how everyday Americans lived. Then when I was in high school, and my parents decided that they better lock the doors, I was really put out. Why would we need to do such a thing. I thought of it more as a hassle then a safety precaution.
Then I moved to Happy Valley. Once again I felt safe and once again I didn't lock our car. I learned to lock the house, but not the car. Never did anything get stolen. Pretty good odds huh?
Then we moved to Alabama. Last week we bought a bike for me. $50 dollars... a pretty good deal. We only have one lock so Allen locked the bikes up together. They have been locked right outside our front window. Well today, Allen rode his bike to school and therefore took the lock. He asked me if I wanted the bike brought inside since it wouldn't have a lock. Who needs a lock. Isn't everybody like me? I have no desire to steal someone else's bike and property... why would anyone want to steal my bike and property. I told him I thought the bike would be just fine. Well, Allen got home tonight and asked if I did something with the bike. No I said I wasn't going to bring it inside. Well apparently some people aren't like me... some people do steal bikes. That is right. My bike that we bought last week was stolen. Allen said, "too bad they got a bike with a flat tire." I now realize I am no longer in small town Oregon. I am no longer in Happy Valley. I no longer feel that safe. I thought it was good to be trusting and hope for the good in people. Now I don't know what to think.

6 comments:

Rachael said...

I the same way as you Cameo! I never lock anything. When I got to Provo, I was frequently locked out of my apartment because I never thought to take my keys and it never occurred to me that you would ever need to lock the door to your apartment. I grew up in small town Utah, and I kind of like it like that. But now...well, seattle has some weird people!

Anonymous said...

This was a very sad tale. I am sorry about your bike. :( I'd give you mine... if I had one... and if we lived closer. But I don't have one. And we don't live closer. That stinks too.

Jackie said...

I am sorry that your bike got stolen! But on the good side, looking at all the other pictures you just posted...you are one adorable hot prego girl! :-) Love you!

Lauren Kay said...

Oh no! That's terrible! I'm a freak when it comes to locking doors. I'm extra paranoid though. I wish that didn't have to happen to you! That really stinks.

kaylene said...

i'm sorry that happened! but yeah, that's the real world... whenever my family comes to visit they think i am being ridiculous that i always lock everything, i don't leave max outside by himself for even two seconds, and i am just super cautious about everything. i always have to remind them that this is houston, place of super-crime, where even though i live in a "good place" (relatively) people still get shot right down the street, and it is not the town of 3000 happy little people that i grew up in. it is sad, but sometimes you do have to not trust people. that is why we need to move, so my kids can have a normal childhood of galavanting around by themselves!

sewdelightful said...

Oh bummer!! Sorry that happened to you!