Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Life in the Boondocks

When I was first married, we lived in an area that I lovingly referred to as the "Lunatic Fringe." My husband was an attorney, and as every lawsuit has two sides, there was always one group of people who didn't like him very much. And, they didn't keep it to themselves.

It seems that there was always someone making threats of some kind against DJ, and some of them were taken more seriously than others. For instance, someone once threatened to snatch Kell. This was before our second child was born. DJ always said not to pay any attention to it, that the threats were empty, but I was not so sure. Anyway, they always made me uneasy, to say the least.

One night, I woke up suddenly, thinking I had heard a noise. I could see into Kell's room, as it was just across the hall from our bedroom. I saw a light coming through the window, playing across the wall, and ceiling in her room. I woke DJ and he stormed up the hall, flashing lights as he went, and opened the front door, turning on the porch light. He ran outside and circled the house, but of course, there was no one there. Not by then. He must have frightened whoever it was, though, because we had no more trouble. I would have felt a lot better, though, if he had called the police.

After we moved to Harrison, one night I answered the phone and a man asked to speak to DJ. The man was calling from Florida, so I didn't feel any particular uneasiness, as I told him DJ wasn't at home . But, he was obviously a crackpot. He ranted and raved and said he was going to make DJ take his case, even though he had already turned him down. I told him that there were other lawyers and why didn't he call them. He said he had called every lawyer in the area, and finally found DJ. He repeated that DJ couldn't refuse to take his case, and I said I was sure he could, and if he would leave his number I'd have DJ call him and tell him so himself.

I so happens, one of our local attorneys had died recently, and I could hardly believe my ears when this old coot said what he obviously believed to be a dire threat. He said, ominously, "You know, 'So-and-So' refused to take my case, and look what happened. He died."

I was still laughing when DJ got home. As I said before, some threats were scarier than others.

15 comments:

Cazzie!!! said...

Wow, threats are scarry things aren't they? I get threatened in my line of work sometimes, ohh, sure enough the people making the threats are psychiatric in nature, but still, a threat is a threat.
We are silent number and silent on the electoral role, just to make it a little safer for our family.

Anonymous said...

I suppose most of us have to deal with one or more threats, perceived or otherwise, in their lifetime. And almost all are simply the ravings of a person gone amuck....but every now and then there is a "crazy" amongst them. So unfortunately we have to deal with the uneasiness caused by those threats.

I personaly think people who issue such threats should have their heads pinched off....after all their finger nails and toe nails have been pulled out....and holes drilled in all their teeth.

CarmenSinCity said...

What did you think of dancing with the stars this week? Who is your favorite? Least favorite?

Betty said...

alan g: And, after all that torture, they should be dipped in boiling oil.

carmensincity: I kind of like Apollo Ono, and I didn't expect to.

unknown said...

betty,
My youngest son is a county deputy sheriff and he also gets threats..........makes this Mom mad! I told him to carry a big ole' scary pic of me and show it to them......and then tell them they will have to deal with THAT! LOLOLOL

DirkStar said...

How many lawyers does it take to paint a house?

Depends on how thin you spread em...

Good post.

Peggy said...

I have this image that all southern lawyers from the 60's and earlier all look like Atticus Finch. Its a shame that they don't all ACT like him.

The threats would have frightened me too in my younger days. Now, as I'm older and a lot feistier, I'd say "You talkin to me or chewin' on bricks? Either way you'll lose your teeth."

Galla Creek said...

I guess the moral is 'don't scoff at the power of prayer'.

Anonymous said...

Betty, you have the right idea about lawn mowing. You notice I was not the one riding the mower.
teehee
Sister 3

Ellie said...

I always enjoy reading your blogs!

Anonymous said...

It never occurred to me that being a lawyer was so dangerous. I don't know that I would handle a threat against a child quite as well as you did.

katy said...

yes we all will at some time be threatened, thats the sad way of the world these days, doubt i too would be as good at handling things the way you did.

Annie said...

Isn't it good that those days are in the past. I am not a coward but I can be intimidated by things. It sounds to me like you have those same qualities.

It wouldn't have been pleasant to fear for my child and family, that's for sure.

Peggy said...

Happy Easter Betty!

patsy said...

happy easter , betty.