React, Don’t Run

When you are scared, do you run or react?

Just the other night, I ascended the stairs from our family room to retrieve a pair of glasses. Walking through our dark dining room towards the front door, I encountered a dark figure standing in front of me. With a can of fruit in hand, I screamed bloody murder and prepared to throw the can at this person, then push the figure against the wall, hopefully out the door. Luckily, I realized it was my sister. Unable to reach me by phone, she grew worried and came over to check on us. Wow, she almost got a can of fruit between her eyes.

Then, there was the time right after we moved into our North Street house. Returning home from visiting the in-laws, Art had Lisa, and I had Michelle. We drove separately. Upon arriving home, I realized that Michelle and I had beaten them. Entering the house, I heard a pull-chain light being turned on from the basement. Then, I heard someone walking and then running up the basement stairs. I thought there was someone in our house and proceeded to run through the kitchen with the full intent of pushing this intruder back down the stairs. At the last moment, I realized it was my oldest daughter who had been dropped off by my husband, and she had gone downstairs to retrieve something. She almost got pushed down the basement stairs. It’s hard to tell what would have happened to her then.

There was an event when no one was home. It was a Friday night, and the girls were at a football game. Having gone on an errand, I entered the kitchen from the garage and noticed the light fixture above the kitchen table swinging. This is not a light that swings, as it is very heavy, and there was no draft or wind in the kitchen. I stopped, just knew that someone had just entered the house, and was contemplating whether to run to the neighbors for help when my oldest daughter and her boyfriend jumped out from another room. I was so scared that I ran up to my daughter, and I was told I slapped her across her face.

So, my suggestion is not to scare me. I do not run; I react!

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