This week has been draining on so many levels, so when I had the opportunity to crawl under the covers before 10pm last night...you can bet that I gladly accepted! Mr. headed out of town earlier in the day, and treated me by taking both dogs with him. Yes, "treated" me. While I love them dearly, they are still adjusting to the colder temps thus now like to spend more time pretending to be humans than dogs...their desire to go "in" and "out" can be distracting, and slightly annoying to say the least! So I was rather eager to have the house to myself.
Around 9:30pm, I said goodnight to Mr. via phone, curled up with a cup of hot "before bed" herbal tea, the newest copy of Natural Health, and my kitty Pinot. Ahh...true peace and quite. In a half hour, I read nearly all of the copy in the magazine - very insightful - and called it a night. Evening routine includes turning down heat, locking all doors, turning the light on above the sink, locking the doors to my bedroom and its connecting bathroom, and turning on the fan.
In minutes, I was sound asleep. Dreaming wonderful dreams I suppose...that is until a loud noise coming from the kitchen jolted me awake (it was around 12:20am). While I was certainly out of it, my body did not waste a second to react with a pounding heart. The first thing I noticed was that the fan was off. Then my attention was quickly averted to the loud noises and a shuffling sound was taking place outside my door. I slowly crept up out of bed and opened my window. I wanted to be prepared in case I need to leap out of it. I then put on slippers and and jacket (closet items of clothing I could find), went to the connecting bathroom (closest to the kitchen/and where the sound was coming from), grabbed a bottle of hairspray and a lighter (totally random, right?), and laid on the floor to hear better and to try and see underneath the crack of the door. It was odd to me how dark it was. It was also odd to me that the furnace kept kicking on (was a window open, I wondered). In these moments, I was not me - it felt more like I was watching a scene from a movie. Surreal. My senses were of course completely piqued, and while the loud noises and shuffling sound had stopped, I could still hear a soft movement in the house.
I finally stood up, walked my phone to the window (wanted it as close to my exit if necessary), walked back into the bathroom and decided to open the door. Slowly...I unlocked, opened and peaked out to the kitchen. I was immediately startled that the lights I had left on were now off, I instantly switched on the lights near me only to see the main door to the house was wide open. Slamming the door to the bathroom, I ran back to my phone and called 911. While I didn't know if someone was in the house, or if someone had been in the house, I knew that I wasn't going to go find out for myself, nor did I want to take the risk of breaking my ankle by making the leap out the window if I wasn't sure.
The 911 operator asked me several questions...I felt slightly irritated at first...until I realized that while she was asking me questions, she had already sent word on and officers were on there way. She was just trying to keep me talking and on the phone. I was a bit shaky, but for the most part, pulled together. The officers arrived in minutes. Two cars - three officers. I watched from my window as they scoped out the perimeters, and finally they came into the house (through the open door) and continued the search room by room until the house was cleared.
Surrounded by the three of them, and all of their questions...I was overcome with a feeling of being small. Physically small. Like perhaps how a child feels with adults hoovering atop of them. I then felt a little silly...as if I just called 911 to chase away the bogeyman. No one was found, no trace of footprints, and unfortunately, no explanation for the door - other than a freak thing -, or the lights - other than I never had them on (but I swear I did!), - and as for the noises - well that must have been caused by the door slamming into the wall, the wind moving through the house, and perhaps the cat making his way out the opened door. Of course it was a sigh of relief...and they were so kind, helpful and even checked all doors in the house, all windows, turned on all my outdoor lights, and promised to sit in the driveway for a while.
Ahh, what a night...truly thankful for the non-eventful outcome.
Ever since I got mugged, probably 5+ years ago, I told myself that I was going to take self-defense classes. I still have not done that yet. After last night, it's once again on the top of my list. Knowledge is Power! Any training of how to handle yourself in situations of the alike, rather real - or just real in you head - is going to position you to have a better outcome. And I always believe, if in doubt (as I was), reach out! I was able to rest - EASIER - knowing that I was indeed home alone.
MSF
Around 9:30pm, I said goodnight to Mr. via phone, curled up with a cup of hot "before bed" herbal tea, the newest copy of Natural Health, and my kitty Pinot. Ahh...true peace and quite. In a half hour, I read nearly all of the copy in the magazine - very insightful - and called it a night. Evening routine includes turning down heat, locking all doors, turning the light on above the sink, locking the doors to my bedroom and its connecting bathroom, and turning on the fan.
In minutes, I was sound asleep. Dreaming wonderful dreams I suppose...that is until a loud noise coming from the kitchen jolted me awake (it was around 12:20am). While I was certainly out of it, my body did not waste a second to react with a pounding heart. The first thing I noticed was that the fan was off. Then my attention was quickly averted to the loud noises and a shuffling sound was taking place outside my door. I slowly crept up out of bed and opened my window. I wanted to be prepared in case I need to leap out of it. I then put on slippers and and jacket (closet items of clothing I could find), went to the connecting bathroom (closest to the kitchen/and where the sound was coming from), grabbed a bottle of hairspray and a lighter (totally random, right?), and laid on the floor to hear better and to try and see underneath the crack of the door. It was odd to me how dark it was. It was also odd to me that the furnace kept kicking on (was a window open, I wondered). In these moments, I was not me - it felt more like I was watching a scene from a movie. Surreal. My senses were of course completely piqued, and while the loud noises and shuffling sound had stopped, I could still hear a soft movement in the house.
I finally stood up, walked my phone to the window (wanted it as close to my exit if necessary), walked back into the bathroom and decided to open the door. Slowly...I unlocked, opened and peaked out to the kitchen. I was immediately startled that the lights I had left on were now off, I instantly switched on the lights near me only to see the main door to the house was wide open. Slamming the door to the bathroom, I ran back to my phone and called 911. While I didn't know if someone was in the house, or if someone had been in the house, I knew that I wasn't going to go find out for myself, nor did I want to take the risk of breaking my ankle by making the leap out the window if I wasn't sure.
The 911 operator asked me several questions...I felt slightly irritated at first...until I realized that while she was asking me questions, she had already sent word on and officers were on there way. She was just trying to keep me talking and on the phone. I was a bit shaky, but for the most part, pulled together. The officers arrived in minutes. Two cars - three officers. I watched from my window as they scoped out the perimeters, and finally they came into the house (through the open door) and continued the search room by room until the house was cleared.
Surrounded by the three of them, and all of their questions...I was overcome with a feeling of being small. Physically small. Like perhaps how a child feels with adults hoovering atop of them. I then felt a little silly...as if I just called 911 to chase away the bogeyman. No one was found, no trace of footprints, and unfortunately, no explanation for the door - other than a freak thing -, or the lights - other than I never had them on (but I swear I did!), - and as for the noises - well that must have been caused by the door slamming into the wall, the wind moving through the house, and perhaps the cat making his way out the opened door. Of course it was a sigh of relief...and they were so kind, helpful and even checked all doors in the house, all windows, turned on all my outdoor lights, and promised to sit in the driveway for a while.
Ahh, what a night...truly thankful for the non-eventful outcome.
Ever since I got mugged, probably 5+ years ago, I told myself that I was going to take self-defense classes. I still have not done that yet. After last night, it's once again on the top of my list. Knowledge is Power! Any training of how to handle yourself in situations of the alike, rather real - or just real in you head - is going to position you to have a better outcome. And I always believe, if in doubt (as I was), reach out! I was able to rest - EASIER - knowing that I was indeed home alone.
MSF
