On Break-Ins & Feeling Violated

Last night our house was robbed while we were in it. This is the fourth (seemingly unrelated) break-in to happen on our street since we moved here two years ago, which is slightly unsettling. We live in a really quiet, wonderful area, but I suppose that doesn't matter. I feel hurt, and I feel hurt for my city, my home.

I was upstairs nursing Gretchen to sleep while it happened, and came downstairs after hearing a lot of noise, to find Ryan and a complete stranger in a heated argument in our office. The entire situation was disorienting, but I quickly realized what was happened and threw the man out. My mama bear instincts kicked in as I shoved him toward our front door in rage. Standing on the sidewalk in front of our house, Ryan called 911.

The man didn't get away with many of our belongings, but he took with him the sense of safety I've always had in this town. This is my home, it's where I grew up, and now I'm angry. More than angry. A little hostile, actually. A large part of me wishes I'd had the presence of mind to assault him a little on the way out the door, though I joked later with the police that it would have caused a lot more paper work if I had.

We're both feeling a little shook up today, and completely violated. It's a terrible feeling knowing a complete stranger was inside your home. Everything's still a little hazy, but in those moments all I could think was "get this man away from my child" and that's really all that mattered. I knew he wasn't there to hurt us... he was there for a quick cash grab. And I hope it lands him in jail.

And I hope I'll be able to feel secure in my home again. We've always locked our doors at bedtime, but now they'll remain locked permanently... and then some. I grew up in a home that never, ever had locked doors and slowly that option is becoming less viable.

Ironically, last night was the first night that Gretchen slept straight through until 7.30am. A nice treat for her weary parents.

Thank you to everyone's kind messages over Twitter and Facebook last night. You cats mean the world to me, and I'm grateful for your support. My fingers are crossed that this delightful miscreant gets what's coming to him.