Thief
I happened on this rather large thrift store over in one of the not-so-nice parts of the city. As I have stated many-many times before, thrift stores, and the like, are one of my favorite forms of distraction as you never know what you may find. Most of the time, nada—zero. But, every now and then you find that treasure. I know I have.
Anyway, I pulled into the parking lot and got out of my car. Immediately, I noticed this very sketchy guy walking around the lot looking into cars. Then, I see him testing the door on one car to see if it was open.
What are you (I) supposed to do with that type of visual information? It’s not like this store has a security guard or anything like that. …Or, anyone working there who would give a shit. Call the cops, forget about it, they may or may not show up someday…
I made sure my car door was locked and started for the front of the store. Then, I noticed the guy was looking in a trunk. I guess someone had left it opened or something??? I thought, I better set the alarm on my car. Something I normally never do. I hate those things when they go off. So, I walked back by my car and clicked it on. My break lights flashed to let me know it was engaged.
As I was walking towards the store, a strange thought came to me… I mean, here we are; this guy and me. We live in the same world. Where I lay my head at night is not all that far from where I was in that parking lot. At least not that far as the crow flies. But, he and I were worlds apart.
I guess that’s the thing in a big city like L.A. I mean, there are so many levels of life living right next to each other. The same but very-very different.
Just then, I thought to look at my watch to see what time it was. A strange thought hit me. I realized that there I was, I had an eighteen thousand dollar watch on my wrist and that guy, who was just a few feet away from me, was trying to steal whatever he could out of cars (apparently) just to survive.
The thing is, I grew up on the wrong side of the tracks too. So, I understand that guy’s reality. Though I was never poor, I didn’t live a good life as a child and an adolescent. I had a few friends who by the time we were in middle school had already been arrested and done time. I’m sure some of them followed that path into adulthood, as that is all they came to know. Some of them weren’t poor either. It’s just the life and the lifestyle that surrounded them guided them down the road they walked upon.
It could have been me. It was just my morality and (I guess) my emersion into eastern spirituality and (maybe) the martial arts that kept me free of that life path. Because once you’re on it, there is little chance of turning it around.
So, this is just something to think about as you pass through life. Be thankful for what you have. Be grateful that you’re not living a life on the skids where you have to roam parking lots looking for open doors (or trunks) where you have to steal your way to eat.
As for my shopping experience, nothing. But, that’s okay too. It was a learning experience. Can’t ask for more than that!