I'm the Drum Major in the Freak Parade

So let's see... how long ago was it that I wrote a bit about being a magnet for freaky stuff?

***

Dropping the kids off this morning, I noticed a man running from one side of the daycare to the other. The place is strangely laid out, and different doors are used at different times of the day, depending on whether you're dropping off or picking up.

And he was going from the side with the locked door to the other side. Clearly he didn't know the schedule, and that'd make him a stranger.

Early 20s, 5'7" maybe, athletic build, black, some facial hair... he went in the building, and I saw him talking to some of the parents and teachers in there.

At that time of day the administrators aren't in yet, so it's just teachers and kids. It's not a policy I think highly of.

A teacher said, "You're a man... will you help us with this guy? He's going around, asking for money."

I dropped Kelli off at home, which is about 300 yards away if that, and went back to the school.

He was standing outside. I gave him some change, and said if he needed more he should go to the dry cleaners up the street. I told him he was ruffling feathers because our kids are in there, and this place was a bad choice for him.

He said a woman who'd just gone in was supposed to come back out with money. Okay.

I stepped inside the doors and waited. A teacher said police had been called.

***

Then she said she saw the police over at the wrong door. Crud.

I headed over there, but they'd continued driving around the back of the building.

I looked up and the guy was inside again. Ah crap.

He left before I could get over to him again. At THAT moment an administrator arrived at the "wrong" door, and I explained that we had a situation. She proceeded to the "right" door and locked it. The guy was out of sight, and I stayed at the door for a few minutes, letting parents in as they arrived.

The police emerged, but the guy was long gone. We gave a description. As we talked, I learned he'd already been given at least $3.

So he was an uninvited stranger in the daycare, behaving erratically.

***

A note was sent home with the kids today saying that henceforth a daycare worker would be posted at the door each morning. I'm glad to see they're taking some action at least.

***

So it got me to thinking about some of this year's freaky occurrences, and the thought processes associated with each one.

***

Back in March was the argument at the video store with a teenager.

Mental aspect: I lost my cool, lickety split. I was ready to scrap with this guy because neither of us liked the way the other was driving. I was shouting, cursing, and somehow managed to bluff the guy into backing down.

Physical aspect: I had just about nothing. I realized that I'd rather not end up on the ground seeing as how it was asphalt and all, so I decided I'd kick him as hard as I could. My mind was racing, and it was a damn strange feeling to really have almost no idea what to do.

***

Several weeks later came the incident in Central Park in Hurst when a strangely buff homeless guy was behaving erratically, making these strange "muscle man" poses he leered at me from behind my family.

Mental aspect: I was determined to be cool. It doesn't take much erratic behavior for me to summon cops, especially around my family. I got them on the horn and watched that freakin' ape give everyone at the park the heebie jeebies. Cops showed up and sent him away. Fine.

Physical aspect: I'd been in Krav Maga for about six weeks if I recall. I did not feel prepared. I thought about some of what we'd learned, and really, I felt wholly unprepared to whip out anything, even in a pinch. Cognitively I knew a number of fighting techniques at that point, but nothing was committed to muscle memory, nothing was flowing. Way too damn early.

***

Then there was today. In a way this ended up being a combination of my psych training and martial arts training.

Mental aspect: I stayed completely cool, while keeping in my mind that the guy had crossed a boundary. I wanted to make it clear to him that he did not belong in the school with those kids. I think everything that came out of his mouth was a scam, but I emphasized that his presence around our kids made me nervous, hoping it'd stir up some empathy in him. I went into this thinking that my best asset in that (or any other) confrontation is my brain. Chuckle if you want.

Physical aspect: Whoa... first, let me say that the other two incidents were quite clearly capable of becoming physical. In this one it was much less certain. It was possible, but aside from acting so strangely, he hadn't done anything that was obviously intended to be threatening.

But it occurred to me that as I kept all of this in mind, I didn't start to plan a way to engage him. I didn't go over techniques, vulnerable spots, any of that. Honestly, all I thought was: If I need to do something, it'll come.

On the one hand, I feel okay that I had that level of confidence, all right. But... it feels awful damn strange to have not been actively... creating a strategy, you know?

I really don't know if this is good or bad. I'm in uncharted territory here.

***

I will say that mission #1 is accomplished: Martial arts training has given me the confidence NOT to fly off the handle or even get panicky. I train and train and train, and all of that training somehow ended up as merely a terrific backup plan should plan A, outsmart him, fail.

***

This thing at the daycare this morning may have been no big deal. He told me he went in because it's a church, and he figured a guy in need could get help there. I suppose there's a chance he meant it. I doubt it though.

Yeah, I'm over-analyzing. If that surprises you, well, you haven't been to my little corner of the web much, have you?

***

I've got a few other things I could go on about, but this is getting pretty damn long. Just know that even MORE good job stuff is happening now. The next 48 hours could be really good.

Assuming I don't have to whup a transient. In that case the next 48 hours would be ECSTATICALLY GOOD.

(Just kidding)

***

I'd like to hear from any of you about your thoughts on this. Whit, of course. And Toland, shoot, you've been in some intense kickboxing training for months... any of this click with you? Anyone who'd care to chime in, I'll pay attention.

***

Ya'll have a good one.