Maybe you can ride my car!
Over the last 24 hours, an invitation was extended to a stranger to enter my car.

Late last night, on a spontaneous trip to McDonalds, I arrived to find that the doors were closed. I was still hungry, and the drive through was still open, so I got in line. Walking to the front door, I saw a guy that had walked up, and asked if he needed something, but he said he'd be fine. Then, I saw him standing behind my car in the line. I got out and asked him if he needed a ride through, and he said he could walk through, which I didn't know. He thanked me for the offer, then began to harass me for my Ottawa Senators vanity plates. It was quite a humourous exchange, I thought.

Later that night, while I was fast asleep, someone went into my car without my permission. They took my backpack, and went through my glove compartment, then left my backpack on the ground of the parking lot, with it's contents strewn about. In the ordeal, I lost a pencil case, and maybe some books. I was quite surprised that nothing else was missing, but I'm quite sure they were just looking for drugs, cash, or some other semi-liquid asset. My stereo was untouched, and my hockey stick was left as is. What's most disturbing is the sentimental value of the pencil case. It was a black canvas pencil case from the now defunct Kettle Creek clothing company of Port Stanley, Ontario. It was a great pencil case, dating back to my high school days. All the pens in there were free ones I picked up from somebody advertising something along the way, but that pencil case is irreplaceable. I don't feel violated, nor do I regret leaving my car unlocked. I'd just like that pencil case back.

In one case, I invited a stranger into my car, but the invitation was rejected. In another case, the car itself, or its contents, extended the invitation. I think there is a deeper point there, but I'll just leave it at that.

   [ posted by William @ 9:51 PM ]