Manhunt!!!

-
Pretty scary evening.

The Yankees game was just starting when Jake mentioned helicopters outside our home.

“There’s been a murder around here,” Jake said, a moment later. “They’re looking for 4 guys who escaped in a car that broke down on Lake Avenue.”

“What?”

I immediately flashed back to when I was a kid. A man had shot an Erie County Sheriff in our little hometown. The cop who died that day was a friend of my parents. He lived right up the road.

I headed to the basement. As usual, our front door was unlocked. On top of that, it was open.

The social media took over.

I got a few texts and a couple of calls. I had a son to get home. Sam was playing hoops in a park in the neighborhood.

I texted him.

“We saw a dude with an AK walking down our street when we left,” he wrote.

“A good guy or bad guy?” I asked.

“I didn’t ask.”

We got the boys in the house.

And a thought occurred to me.

“What could I even do?”

Heavily armed men moving through the neighborhood.

I looked out the back window and watched the copters make their passes over the wooded area 500’ behind our home.

I saw an officer at the edge of the woods. He was also heavily armed. I felt better. I went out the front door and noticed that my neighbors were gathered at the end of their driveway.

“This is crazy,” I called out.

“Crazy?” A young kid answered. “I think it’s awesome.”

Four men on the loose after being involved in a shooting with at least two victims is...

...awesome???

I once heard it said that if we were serious about stomping out violence in this country we probably should not enjoy it so much.

And I felt a sinking feeling.

It happens everywhere!

What would make us immune?

The news was sketchy and all the town kept saying was stay in your home and don’t answer the door.

Really?

Good information right there!

I don’t even open the door when I know the person who’s knocking.

The boys were nervous.

I was nervous.

And by bedtime the info was still pretty scant.

What a world.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Suits

-
Like a lot of other people we got pulled into the series, ‘Suits’ on Netflix. I’ve never had much fun hanging around lawyers who have questioned me as a construction safety officer. I once testified in a case where the opposing lawyer started questioning me by going through my educational background. “So,” he said, racing to a crescendo, “You graduated from college with a degree in Communications-Journalism and suddenly, 30 years later, you’re a ‘safety expert.’” He actually made the quotation marks with his fingers. I just looked at him. “How does that happen?” He bellowed, sure that he was going to discredit me. “Well,” I said. “I knew I was overqualified to become a lawyer.” The courtroom erupted in laughter. Even the judge chuckled. The rest of his questions landed flat. So, I wasn’t all that keen on a show about lawyers, but ‘Suits’ is great. Meghan Markle became a princess because of the show, and she is very good in it (and a beautiful woman). Yet, there is so much more. The wri
Read more

My Buddy, Dave

-
Way back in 1997, I started working with a steel erection company out of Syracuse. I was coming straight from a long stint with a steel erector here in Buffalo so I knew my stuff when it came to steel erection safety rules. On day one, I met with the safety director and he was just getting started as a safety guy, but man, he certainly cared about the guys he worked with. Dave was a good man from the start. He’d say things like: “You’re so full of beans.” Just a down to earth, hardworking guy who became a fast friend. We drove all around New York State setting up jobs. I always let Dave drive so that I could rest. One fine day, way up North of Syracuse, we passed a state trooper.  I glanced at the speedometer. “You’re screwed,” I said, and seconds later, the lights came on. Dave was beside himself.  The cop stopped by the window, grabbed the license and registration and headed back to his vehicle. “Here’s the thing,” I said. “You’re pissed, but you’re such a good guy that I bet you tha
Read more

Mom & Ollie

-
Image
 Ollie Stadium is a mess. The heavy rains rendered the backyard a mud pit and even though we threw in the side yard, the Big O was looking for more, and we were both covered in mud. I had to take some steam out of him somehow so I suggested we go visit Grandma. Ollie hates the car, but he laid quietly as we made the trip. We even brought the football because there is plenty of room to play at Grandma’s. Mom opened the door and started laughing. I thought about the love she had for every single dog we ever had. Oliver was quick to give my Mom a kiss, and then he stood beside her. The love between Mom and Dogs is a mutual bond. Through the years, Mom would make breakfast for the dogs.  Fried eggs, toast, bacon… She would wrap Christmas gifts for them. “To Jeter, Love Santa,” she would write on the cards. They played with the big chicken that made a lot of noise. Mom tossed the football and Ollie brought it back to her. As the visit drew to a close I headed for the door.  “C’mon, Oliver,”
Read more