Dang

It seems as if Trevor has a big bulls eye on his back. Target written across his forehead. I sent him to the store to buy oil for the new lawn mower. I told Tom I wasn't sure if Trevor could handle the errand, if he would come back with the right stuff. Tom said its not that difficult to find lawn mower oil. I sent him with the spare cell just in case.





I got a call. My bike that he used to get to the store is no longer where he left it. It was stolen from out front. He had left it unlocked. There were several other unlocked bikes, but it was mine that was taken. It was nicer than the rest. I told Trevor to report it to security and walk home. I got in my car and drove around the area and through the apartment complexes to see if I could spot it. It has a white wire basket on the front. You would think that who ever took it would be discouraged by the girly basket. They probably ditched the basket, but it was attached with a solid chain to the handle bars, so it wouldn't fly off the bike when I had it on the rack driving.





My hope is that they needed a quick ride to another destination then ditched the bike at that end and it will reappear. I filed a police report in case they stumble over it. The basket does make it distinctive from the bikes you see around town. Its a Timberline GT from GI Joes (It has a sticker on it near the bottom post) with a tan front and mostly dark grey frame. It also has the wider girl's seat with a tear in it. It is a match to Riley's so I was able to give a very accurate description to the police. You never know, they could find it abandoned somewhere.





I just feel that Trevor gets more than his fair share of ill will. At school he lost his lanyard twice. Once it was literally ripped from his neck. The boy took off running and hid in one of the classrooms around a corner. Trevor could not identify him, it happened too suddenly. He didn't even try to chase the child down. Another time his card was recovered in the garbage by staff, when he left it at his lunch table. It had been mangled on purpose. He had a really nice calculator last year that came home crushed from being stomped on. You could see the shoe print in the plastic. I am tempted to hold him back from high school one year. He will be eaten alive standing still.



Riley never had these difficulties. He kept track of his stuff. He didn't let people take advantage of him. You never wanted to make him mad. His expression when angry would turn you to stone, if it didn't make you laugh. He would defend himself and his territory. On the other hand he is not generous the way Trevor is with his good works and deeds.



Trevor would offer to help someone if he saw the need. Riley would be oblivious that someone even needed help. He might even try to hide out rather than help out.



The other day my neighbor was clearing out his garage. His wife offered a huge cabinet they were ditching. It was perfect for the boys' toys, if I could get it up to the playroom. The thing was seven feet tall and two feet wide. It was awkward and weighed more than I could manage alone. Trevor came out to help me move it. We used the dolly to get it in to the house and up the stairs. It was sweaty work.



Trevor took the bottom of the dolly when we reached the stairs. I took the top. I was pinned by its height. I would call " lift" and we would raise one strep at a time. Towards the top we realized the cabinet would not make the corner on its side. It was too long. I was afraid if we tipped it up we would lose control. Trevor would be crushed under the weight and fall down the stairs. I called in Riley to help at my end. We lifted and turned carefully. Trying to hang on so the monster didn't slide back down the stairs where Trevor had the bottom end on the dolly wheels. If the wheels slipped off the stair Trevor could lose his balance. We couldn't go back down and it was a nightmare making the turn. But together as a team we survived and the boys now have a spot to contain their messes. I am putting more shelves in for organizing games.



My neighbor was right, it is not an attractive cabinet. But it is so useful and practical. I may just put a new handle on it to dress it up a bit and it should be just fine. The only way I am getting it out of that room is in pieces anyway. I am not moving it again. I could not have gotten it up the stairs at all without Trevor.



Trevor hadn't locked the bike at the store. He forgets the combination. I let our guard down and had stopped worrying about theft and not pushed him to be safer. Hard lesson learned. I usually detach the front tire or bring the bike into the store or use the chain making it look like the bike is locked even if the lock is not closed. Trevor probably just parked and walked in to the store with out pretence. Any one watching would have seen he did not make any effort to lock the bike. I can't be mad at him for his having faith in the goodness of others.



I found out the cameras outside face the employee parking areas not the public areas outside the building. The doors inside are covered with cameras, but not outside. Who ever took the bike got away with it with impunity. Without a subpoena you can't even see the security photos. Which is one of the reasons why I did file a police report.





I miss the era of unlocked doors and assisting your neighbors. In our little area we know our neighbors. I have driven the teenager who missed the bus to school. My neighbors have done the same for my boys. We have babysat when needed and watched each others homes when on vacation. I just forgot the rest of the world doesn't live with the same integrity, especially when people are out of work and desperate.



Tom kept his door unlocked in Eugene when he was gone at work. He said that was because if someone wanted to break in they would easily succeed. It was more costly to replace the front door than to just leave it unlocked. We really didn't have anything back then worth stealing.



We were burglarized in the country when we lived in La Center. Someone broke into our garage and took our fun tools; chain saw, circular saw and all sorts of other tools we had. $2500 worth of tools went missing. It was one of the reasons I was willing to give up that little piece of paradise and move into town.

Now we have a steel door. I have given the boys keys. We had a reminder today and will try be more vigilant as to what the rest of the world is doing.