Very Serious Stuff...with a Side of Crazy Pants

Warning.  Foul language ahead.

There is nothing all that funny about this entry, but for my own theraputic purposes I'm going to lay it all out there anyway. 

Last night, after finishing at Ellie's gymnastics class, she and I ran by Publix to grab some diapers and milk.  Then we headed to the McDonald's on Whitlock to grab her a Happy Meal.  Instead of going straight to the drive through, I pulled into a parking space to enter my Publix purchase into my phone since I did it with my check card and not cash...I'm very OCD about my check card purchases right now.

While I'm typing away a guy runs up to my car window, holds up a 9MM and proceeds to yell at me to get out of the car.  I immediately think "if that asshole thinks I'm getting out of this car without Ellie he might as well go ahead and shoot me."  I glance back at her and I'm about to yell at her to "unhook, unhook, unhook and get in the front seat with mommy" so that I could open the door and run with her when he sees her too and thinks better of what he's doing.  He jumps the retaining wall between McDonald's and the next door insurance company and takes off running.

I gather my wits (sort of) and call 911.  They catch him and his accomplice.  Apparently, I was not the only target of the evening and they've got another guy in the parking lot across the street giving them statements and descriptions.

First off, I love, love, love the Marietta PD right now.  They took care of me.  They completely wowed Ellie and they made the whole thing as un-scary as possible.  I do not remember the officer's name who dealt with us, but once I find out I am going to make sure the entire department knows that he is an asset to them and our entire community. 

Secondly, my little girl is the bravest, most unflinching soul I have ever met.  She and she alone, because my attention was elsewhere, noticed the car the guy got out of, the appearance of the driver, what color the car was, what the driver was wearing...everything.  She made sure the police officer knew as well.  She also let him know that her younger brother likes trains, chocolate Santas , sometimes hits, and she told him about her class on Italy that day and how Mt. Vesuvius destroyed Pompeii.  What attempted carjacking?

Lastly, for the record, I'm not a nervous Nelly.  As this was going on, I had my shit together.  I had a complete description of the guy.  Held it together and didn't sob uncontrollably to the 911 operator (also, by the way, fantastic public servant).  However, now that I've had some time to reflect, here is what I thought about in the ten seconds or so of sheer panic:

1.  Gotta get Ellie in the front seat!
2.  Will it hurt if he shoots me?
3.  If I just jam the door open will it hit him in the junk hard enough to make him drop?
4.  He'll shoot me in the leg, right?  Because these pants suck and I sort of like my shirt.
5.  Dammit, will he let me grab the diapers?  We're completely out.
6.  Fuck the milk.
7.  If I don't get her a cheeseburger, she's going to flip and I just know he's going to want my wallet.
8.  Maybe that's not a gun, maybe it's a Zach Morris phone.
9.  Nope, definitely a gun.
10.Damn, dude, pull up your pants.

Seriously.  I thought all of these things.  We're safe.  The bad guys got caught.  I'm still shaking.  But, I saw last tonight how fabulous and fast our police force can be.  I saw them show kindness to a freaked out mom and a little girl.  I saw them frustrated by this kind of crime in our neighborhood.  We walked away, me a little shaken and Ellie no worse for wear.  I will never stop praying in thankfulness for that fact.