My Jeep

Twas the Friday after Christmas, and I was off work, which really isn't too unusual. I was leaving a restaurant and tightly holding my son Jake's hand as he likes to run free like a wild man whenever possible. I unlocked the door to my Jeep, with the keys as I don't have a key fob to perform the magic, and threw the keys in the front seat since putting them back in my pocket at that point is usually a hassle. Hit the door locks to unlock the doors and, uncharacteristically closed the door. I went to open the back door to load in my two year old and found it very locked. I turned to open the driver side door I had just unlocked, and found it just as locked.

As my wife approached the vehicle I asked her to unlock it with her keys, which she quickly pointed out that they were sitting in the cup holder, seems she found putting up keys a hassle as well. At this moment, I have to admit I was feeling quite livid, but it's hard to fault someone who has the same faults as yourself, at least without being a blatant hypocrite. I tried being angry in several different directions, but really I was the only one to blame, and at that point it seemed like a waste of energy. Luckily I had just had a big lunch, and had plenty of energy to waste.

It took a few hours, and most of it waiting, but eventually we worked out how to get back into the Jeep and drive it home. Seems giving a spare house key to my mother was a pretty good idea.

It also seems that somewhere, someone asked Santa for a real off road vehicle. And Santa being the snow and reindeer type of guy must have mistakenly brought them a Hummer, and they in turn, realized they should have said Jeep. With quite a few shopping days left till Christmas 2008, they decided that waiting on Santa wouldn't be prudent.

The next day was Saturday and it was a lazy day. I did about nothing, didn't even get dressed for most of it. Then late in the afternoon I get a call from my Mom, and she is having problems with her computer. Seeing as she had rescued us the day before, it was only fair for me to head over and take a look at the problem.

So, I walked out to the Jeep to warm it up before heading over there, and found the driver side passenger door ajar.

"Great" I thought, "The battery is probably dead from the door being open all night."

Then I realized the window on that door was smashed.

"Great" I thought, "Some one broke in to steal something." I briefly wondered if anything of value was in the Jeep.

I opened the door and the tinted glass fell out here and there. I habitually went to unlock the front door and opened it up, to find bits of my ignition on the floor board. At that point it slowly dawned on me that they were trying to take the whole Jeep.

It took two months to get my Jeep back and working properly again, and a few more months to get over the paranoia. I still don't turn off the light in front of the garage where the Jeep sits, and I always park it where I can see it from my bedroom window. So I guess I'm still not over the paranoia.