VIOLATED

Physical assault and rape usually comes to mind but other definitions include breached, broken, trespassed, trampled on, infringed. What about those violators who mess with our personal stuff and who have so much disregard for other people’s property? It stirs up mixed emotions. You are filled with infuriation. You are incensed and enraged, but at the same time remember how you should act as a Christian; however, you still want to drop kick them into the next county.

Only have experienced a major violation once when my parents’ house was burglarized in the mid ’60s. It happened in the summertime on a Wednesday night while we attended church. In the desert country of New Mexico a prominent fixture in the majority of homes was a swamp cooler where a window needed to be left ajar. It’s still quite a vivid memory after all of these years and can recall those same disturbing sensations.

Walked in through the front door and turned on the light switch. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. On the desk in the living room sat a board game we played numerous times as a family--“Sorry.” Don and I looked at each other and tried to recall whether we had played earlier in the day. No. Turning we noticed a scattering of phonograph albums from Roger Miller to Les Paul lying on the floor by the stereo near the large paned glass window. Something was definitely wrong. No nerves of steel but trepidation as we walked through the rest of the house. In Mom and Dad’s bedroom the dresser drawers had been rummaged through and the window screen removed. After taking inventory it was determined not to be a lucrative heist just some money, an electric razor, and eggs. The cops arrived and took their usual report. I stared at the gun the entire time. Apparently the intruders (believed to be some kids who lived down the street in the cul-de-sac) came through the mesa, jumped the wall and entered through the opened bedroom window. During the night as I lay in bed, constantly saw eerie shadows in the bedroom window. It was not a peaceful night’s sleep. The violation felt just as strong the following morning.

While living in Houston, Mom and Dad’s Oldsmobile Cutlass was stolen twice while parked at their gated apartment complex. The first time they didn’t know it was stolen until the cops called and they had to go to court to prove ownership. One of the small windows on the backseat side was smashed and a hole was cut in the steering column. The second time Mom and Dad discovered the car missing when they were getting ready to go somewhere. The same window was smashed and although it was not stripped, it still cost to repair.

Last week Jonathan’s car was stolen. It was locked. No shattered glass on the ground. Not a fancy car--a ’95 Nissan--but the rims were not of the ordinary and wheels seem to be the target in that section of San Diego County. After two days, the car was found, stripped of all four wheels, several miles north near a popular casino. It sits in a tow yard accumulating daily charges. Do not know if it is salvageable and since it’s not the greatest of vehicles, somewhat hope it is not--will have to be towed and will need to be stored until new wheels are purchased. The Nissan is the only significant asset Jonathan owns, and I just paid the registration renewal. Unfortunately, Jonathan has no job and no money so it takes no genius to guess who will end up paying. Technically you could say I am also a victim, and yes, I do want to drop kick that individual(s) into more than just the next county.