For years now the hubster has wanted me to get my CPL. Especially back when foreclosures were like 90% of my work. I was never against the idea, it just never made it to the top of my list. Mostly at that time because the kiddos were so little and finding a class that worked for kiddo care and my schedule was more effort than I was willing to put in.
Aside from that, I am a klutz. There is always the thought in the back of my head that I could accidentally hurt myself. Now I know of a double safety pistol . . so that is what I’ll ask Santa for this year.
Anyway, I am a very good shot. There is also the thought if: how would I actually feel if I killed someone. Because if I shot on reflex, it’d probably be a kill shot. It’s worked for me to carry knives and mace. I have an assortment of those things.
Honestly most of the squatters in the houses that I have went to are people down in life. They don’t want to see me and I don’t want to see them. I take my time so they know I’m coming in and they leave our the back door or windows. I pray and I totally tune in to that small voice that is lined up with divine intervention. There has only been one house that had something very dangerous in it. I still don’t know what exactly it was; but that small voice was not so small and I didn’t argue.
Other than that, I am good with knives. Mace is easy. I fight dirty. And I keep aware of my surroundings when it counts.
The more dangerous people that I have encountered have not been in the foreclosed houses. They have been on the streets around the houses. Then I’ve adjusted the times that I go to those areas. I’ve worked on the way I carry myself in those areas – confident, but not overly confident. Make eye contact, but don’t hold it – it is a sweeping eye contact so they know that I know they are there; but not a stare to start any interaction. Stay off the phone, so I’m not distracted. Listen for movement. Keep eyes moving to catch movement. Etc.
There was one house where it was other people there securing the house that gave off bad vibes. They kept watching me with questionable stares . . so I picked my nose. Worked great. I’m still proud of the quick thinking on that one. I was outnumbered. And the pick just smashed whatever thoughts were in their heads with that move 🙂 Nothing sexy about a nose pick!
Anyway, all the years later, I am finally going to get my cpl. Next month is the class. Then if I decide to bring a gun to houses, it will be legal 🙂 Have I done it so far illegally? Well, think of this blog like a mystery novel where you don’t get to know!
Tonight I am thankful for the class and license that will make the hubster sleep better at night. 🙂 And, of course for me to be legal about stuff. That is usually a good thing too.
Momma's Silver Lining 