En route to the dentist office yesterday I noticed a store on the far south side of Chicago and made a mental note to stop by there on my way home. It was close by so I decided to return a bunch of supplies we had purchased for our students behind-the-scenes radio/tv/print production at the HigherLearningNetwork.org
When I got out the car, I thought it strange a young man standing in front of the store looking down at his cell phone. (It was FREEZING COLD outside) Was he cell dead? Was he waiting on someone? Questions in my head didn’t linger long, as I continued walking into the store. Inside the store I ran into an old skate buddy, Chris, who is an ex-marine!
We chatted for a few minutes because I had not seen him in a year or so. We used to play bidwhist (card game similiar to Spades or Bridge) and all the fun we used to have playing. As we walked down the aisles, he even pointed out a few items we might need. Very helpful and protective like a big brother. He even asked if my husband needed coffee, as we walked down the aisle.
Because we needed lots of paper towels, tissue, boxes of kleenex, and other items including household items, my cart filled up pretty quickly! Big items take up a lot of space. So it may have appeared to someone that I had a pocket full of money because my cart was packed to the top. Little did they know I didn’t, only returning items.
As I was leaving the store, a young man was behind me. I paid him no attention. Chris was paying attention! He walked to his car, putting his bags in his cars and came back to my car and grabbed me by the hand with the stern look of a sargent and said to me, “Zelda, GET IN YOUR CAR AND LEAVE!! NOW!! Wow! I was shocked!
My conversation with the young lady who was standing outside the door of Dollar Tree telling me her story of how she was here from Columbus, (2 months pregnant with the father in jail), ended at that moment. I wondered why he was so abrupt, but I followed his lead. He told me he would call me as I drove off! I got in my car and left. He called me immediately and told me that I was being set up to for something to bad to happen. He insisted that the young man who was standing outside (the store) when we first went in the store, along with the pregnant girl, and another fellow who followed us out the store, were all together!
He insisted I was about to become a statistic, as he stayed behind for a moment to be sure they weren’t driving and wouldn’t try to follow me. Luckily he said they were walking, as he watched the walking down the street. Wow! What an adventure! What a friend!
So ladies and gents, when you’re out there shopping, be VERY AWARE of your surroundings! As a country girl who talks to everyone she meets, (because I was raised that way in the south, where you’d get popped upside the head if you didn’t speak to people. Chris recognized the GAME! I didn’t because I am so trusting! I still am, but from a distance. Lesson here, be very aware of your surroundings when out and about.
There are so many car jackings, robberies etc, that we must protect ourselves, even if it means not talking as much. I always know that I am divinely guided and protected and my Travel Angels are always with me, but it’s a good thing to be AWARE!
My husband Tony is an ex-CHA Policeman and tells me all the time that I am too trusting and I talk to much! Well, after today, not so much! I probably won’t stop taling to people, but I will be more aware of my surroundings. I can’t stop being who I am, but I can protect myself by being aware! You should too! Be mindful. It could save your life. (Chris said they could have easily stuck a gun in my back shoved me in the car or taken the car.)
Chris says, “Zelda, I recognize game! You were being played upon! KNOW THAT!”
I Trust the power of what the Universe has in store for me. I am very GRATEFUL my Travel Angel for the day, was my friend Chris! Thanks Chris for being by Travel Angel!
#mindfulness matters #stressRelief #travel #angels #ZeldaSpeaks
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