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Free Parking Sunday

I was on my way home and I decided to take the long way and loop around the city..

..I ended up getting off the interstate and heading downtown...

...at this point, I was ready to continue going home. I stood up from taking this photo (on the left), turned to my left and at the end of the block was a man standing beside my car, looking through the passenger window at my camera gear bags, a multi-track recorder, a leather jacket, etc.. I started walking towards him, and he raised his hand and I heard a snap and then I was running at full force, yelling, "Hey!, that's my *expletive* car, man! wtf!?" He threw my bags back through the window but when I reached the car, he was still standing there. I had instinctively grabbed my camera with both hands while I was running, and the lense cap was still off, his eyes were darting between it and my eyes. I reached deep inside and with the power of Chuck Norris, I said, "You had better run. And I mean now." He blinked and took off as fast as he could around the corner. I wish I had taken a photo of him, but you can imagine how far that idea was from my mind. This guy was about three times my size and could've easily had a knife or a gun, but I also didn't think of that until way later. I put my camera down on the ground and walked up to the corner and he was nowhere to be seen. After I had looked at my car, the adrenalin stopped abruptly and I had to sit down for a minute before taking photo's, and calling the police and insurance company.

I had the window replaced within a few days and everything worked out okay. No harm in the end, just another experience, but I don't leave anything in my car anymore and I probably won't be charging anyone when I'm only armed with a camera again. That was pretty dumb.

 

Back to the photo's...

Charlotte, North Carolina
COMMENTS
Whya said at 5:42 p.m. on Jun 14, 2007:
wow..glad u r okay..
Hollyridger said at 5:52 p.m. on Jun 14, 2007:
Goodness, I hope you have recovered from this horrible experience one Sunday. You were certainly very lucky that he didn't harm you and that you caught him in time not to lose anything. Quite the story - not the usual tabblo 'stuff'!
Shampoo said at 5:59 p.m. on Jun 14, 2007:
aargh! Glad you're still around to post this great tabblo!
Cruising said at 6:03 p.m. on Jun 14, 2007:
Wow - glad you are ok. Glad you have the equipment! I never leave anything in plain view for this exact reason.
Ejmccartin said at 6:13 p.m. on Jun 14, 2007:
wowsa! you da man! glad it all worked out in the end. that last shot is way cool!
JeffS said at 6:23 p.m. on Jun 14, 2007:
Glad it worked out. Gotta keep valuables out of sight! I once came out to my car after work and noticed a car leaving as I walked up to it. Turns out they had broken in (pulled the door lock) and were going to take it or my radio or whatever, but took off as I approached. No real adrenaline in that case because they were gone by the time I figured it out (passenger door was open).
Noe said at 6:32 p.m. on Jun 14, 2007:
Wow... what a experience John, I had a experience like that few years ago and is not nice at all. I'm glad you are ok too!! Your tabblo... great!
Floridamolle said at 7:45 p.m. on Jun 14, 2007:
Wow, I always think it's exciting to go out and get some animal pics or so, but your adventures beat all I have experienced, glad you stayed unharmed John, great pics too, love the last one
Bxrgirl27 said at 9:19 p.m. on Jun 14, 2007:
Whew! Glad you and your camera are A Okay! What an experience!
Jerii said at 10:09 p.m. on Jun 14, 2007:
Certainly an unpleasant experience! Glad you're okay and that all the damage was fixable. If nothing else, it made for a great tabblo.
Umauma said at 11:11 p.m. on Jun 14, 2007:
Glad you're still with us John...What a drama, and what an interesting tabblo...What a world~eh?
PHS_Wrestling said at 11:55 p.m. on Jun 14, 2007:
Now that's a story!
Akeke said at 3:25 a.m. on Jun 15, 2007:
gosh! thank you for extended the "use" of Tabblo! I hope this inspires other to do "stories" about life! Glad that you didnt got hurt, a serious risk wasn't it?
MAKeenen said at 11:54 p.m. on Jun 15, 2007:
First, I'm glad your OK. Your lucky you saw the guy and he put the bags back. A few weeks ago someone smashed a freiends car window in a parking lot near Dixie's Tavern and made off with his gym bag, shoes and sweaty clothes. All the police could say was, "It's not a good idea to leave anyting in plain site". Anyhow, The pictures look great and be careful out there. MK
Pkeener said at 9:34 a.m. on Jun 16, 2007:
John, thank you for this wake up call reminder. We all get so focused on getting the shots, that we often leave ourselves very vulnerable...especially in Urban settings. Wow. What a scary thing! Glad he didn't harm you, and also glad you had your cam in your hand, although, it wasn't it a very good weapon for self defense! great way to process this, by making a Tabblo. Nothing is FREE these days. Great Title and Tabblo.
Alisande21 said at 10:53 a.m. on Jun 17, 2007:
Wow! That's a horrible story. I'm glad you're okay. I especially like the Chuck Norris refrence. :) When my grandfather was in his 40's he had his car broken into in downtown Chicago. All he had was an empty box, but the thief obviously felt it was worth smashing a window for. There's some ugly people out there. Stay safe.
Zippywinds said at 4:45 p.m. on Jun 17, 2007:
WHOA oh my YIKES man glad you are all right , terrible .
DVP said at 1:22 p.m. on Jun 20, 2007:
Wow, that was a heart pumping experience. Glad everything turned out and that your trusty CD400 was okay too. Its surprising what we can do when we're feeling that adrenalyn
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