Calm in the face of madness.

Today was an odd day- I know I was going to start sharing my trip report, but today was just too weird not to blog about right away.

Earlier this week, I tried to refill my medication, but CVS didn’t have it in stock. So I had to wait. On the way back from the pharmacy with the boys, I spotted a sheriff’s helicopter making a tight circle.

Please be over the freeway. Please be over the freeway.

It wasn’t. It was circling over an area just a few blocks from the house.

Not knowing what they were there for, I assumed the worst. You see, about two years ago, there had been an incident at a fast food place nearby. A guy robbed the fast food place, and as he came out of the restaurant- an off duty sheriff was pulling in. He called for backup, was shot (he’s alive), and the guy ran into our neighborhood.

We were under lockdown for four hours while they cleared the neighborhood. So I assumed that it was a similar situation and pulled into the driveway. Instead of going through the gate into the backyard where I usually park, I stopped in front of the gate and rushed the boys into the house, locking the door behind me.

No, I didn’t tell the boys why we were doing what we were doing. I just told them I needed them to race to the doorstep and not to move until I got there. One of the things I’ve learned (learned from working at Disneyland) is to keep a clear head and stay calm when things are going wrong.

If you freak out, they will.

As to why we didn’t attempt the backyard, I am the sort of person who weighs her options. On the porch, I can see the only places that someone nefarious could hide. As opposed to going through the gate into the backyard where there are too many places that someone could pop out and harm us from.

…Doesn’t everyone think that way?

In the end, we were fine. One of the BILs said that he heard the helicopter ordering someone to surrender to the police outside of their house. But really, better to be safe than sorry.

I also found the most annoying ice cream truck yet, but I think that’s another story for another day…