Archive for November 26th, 2008

I thought twice about divulging the real goings-on this week, because they’re horrible and depressing, but it’s real life, so I don’t want to pretend it’s not happening.

The night before the Philly marathon, a good friend of mine was viciously attacked in her apartment by a teenaged boy whom she’d occasionally hired to do odd jobs around her house.

This boy tried to rape her without success, but there was a struggle and she ended up with multiple stab wounds and beaten so bad he chipped a vertebrae in her neck and she may lose an eye.

She was found Sunday morning by a guy walking his dog in the neighborhood.  He’d never walked that block before, but the kid had left the door ajar and when the dog went by the door, he stopped in front of it and wouldn’t budge.  Finally, the owner looked in and found my friend.  She was able to name the kid and the cops found the weapon between her house and the kid’s.

When the cops got to the kid’s house, his father said he was at the hospital with a hand wound, they went to the hospital and arrested him.  Turns out he had a prior sex-crime conviction.  He’s 17 or 15 years old. (the news reported 15, but we think he’s actually 17…either way, so young for such evil).

Now my friend is on a ventilator in ICU, unrecognizable, drifting in and out.  We’re not able to visit her for a few more days, and honestly, I’m glad.  I’m afraid to see her.  I can’t stop thinking about what happened and imagining what she went through.

When I’m not thinking about her, there is that pesky issue of my mother…this week is the second anniversary of her suicide (we’re not sure of the exact day).  I’m able to compartmentalize pretty well – I don’t dwell on it, but damn, way to have a fucked up holiday for years to come. Thanks, mom.

Then I call my Ex in Florida to tell him what happened to my friend (very small world, she used to be married to my Ex’s cousin) and he tells me his own story from the weekend.  Two high school boys from the fancy school where he works got in a fight Friday night and one stabbed the other dead.  Both were sweet kids. WTF?

If I wasn’t such a practical person, I’d probably get rid of all the knives in my house.  Seriously, it’s fucked up to have so many mental images for one stupid utensil.

Less horrific but hugely sad is that I found out yesterday another friend’s dog (a big kissable darling) has cancer so there’s nothing they can do for the sweetie but make her comfortable until she goes.  I have felt more for animals than many people, so it’s heartbreaking.

And to round out the week, I had a funky mammogram yesterday (I’ve had quirky ones in the past, so no huge surprise), but this time it’s funky for a different reason, and while there’s nothing to be freak about yet, it’s anxiety provoking to wait for next week’s appt and ultrasound.

So let’s just say, it’s a tough week.  Running helps with zoning out, but then all of sudden, like on today’s run, I’ll start thinking about how easy it’d be for a car to veer off the road and hit me, or look, there’s a scary guy, I’ll run faster by him, or envisioning things I have no business envisioning.  Just seems like we’re hanging by a tiny string sometimes.

Don’t worry though, I’m Debbie Downer for the day, but not enough to ask my Doc for antidepressants.  And being the eternal optimist, Thanksgiving is almost here and I have so much to be grateful for.  This week, my greatest blessing is living with a man who loves to cook the entire Thanksgiving meal by himself.  I don’t have to lift a finger.  What a great man.

I’m not going to open this post to comments, though I know you guys love me and would have put the sweetest replies, I just want to throw this shit out there, let it stick and get on with it.

Happy Holidays if I don’t get a new post in by Thursday.  Big love to you all and give a hug to everyone you care about.  It’s important.