Last week I went through the hell.
We live in a busy area of Los Angeles. All day and night, the cars run after each other. Who knows where and why?
Once in a while a fire truck is called. Another time a police car runs fast with a loud siren to a demanded location. Then it is an ambulance rushing a patient to the hospital.
Our dog barks normally when a stranger passes on the sidewalk, much before we see or hear the person. He barks with almost a lamenting sound when he hears the siren of the ambulance. Regardless of all the movement of the street, our neighborhood is considered to be a quiet area of Los Angeles. Little things happen here and there but mostly the inhabited are hard-working, family-oriented people. They try to have decent, quiet lives.
Last week my neighbor, who also is a friend, called to informed us that their house had been burglarized in less than two hours of her absence. A school teacher, she is trying to enjoy her summer vacations at home and do the projects she has not been able to do during the long year long. Therefore, she passes most of her summer at home.
She said she was working at home all morning. At 11:30 she had a haircut appointment and when she returned home around 1, she found that rooms formerly nicely arranged were in abject disarray. Doors and drawers were wide open. Neatly stored contents were spread everywhere in the violated rooms. Burglars had cut the iron bars to enter her house.
They stole her laptop, some watches, jewelry, money, even a case of bottled water!
I was sad and sorry for the family. Like all of my neighbors, they wake up early every morning, and work honestly through the day.
The only good that came out of this bad situation was that we immediately formed a neighborhood watch. We contacted neighbors we never had seen or talked to for over 20 years. I learned that almost everyone knew about the other person’s life and habits, but we had never spoken to each other! Then we found out that other neighbors had been burglarized during the years but had not called us.
From Nonexistent to Ubiquitous
Suddenly my quiet, safe world turned upside down. I saw thieves all around our house. Once alone at home, my antennas started going high and in all directions. I did not feel secure in my rooms. I imagined all the possible scenarios. Every time I walked out, I looked at my well arranged rooms and then, God forbid, imagined what could happen after I am gone. The first two days I waited till my husband returned home from work before I went to work.
But this pattern could not continue for ever.
I told myself “We hear of so many events in the news. A woman or a man who were alone, were….” Then I preferred that if it was going to happen, it would be better if no one were present. Although we had worked hard to buy material things, we could also live without them.
After all, we are not going to take them with us.
(To be concluded tomorrow)
Dr. Rosemary Hartounian Cohen, who lives in the Fairfax District, earned her Ph.D in sociology from the Sorbonne in Paris. She lived in two other countries before moving wth her husband and children to Los Angeles in 1984. She has published three books in America and is at work on her fourth. Since 1985, Dr. Cohen has operated Atelier de Paris, an international art business, on Robertson Boulevard. She may be contacted at rosemary@atelierdeparis.com
