Stalked!

Some of you seem to be interested in hearing my stalker story. Weird, because it has been over 30 years ago and I haven't given it a lot of thought - except it comes in handy when I have to participate in a "getting to know each other" type icebreaker.

The story comes in pieces. That's probably why I wasn't so freaked out when each piece happened. BUT... when I looked at the whole story.... well - see what you think....

Piece #1

In 1978-ish I lived in Burbank, California and worked as a merchant teller for Community Bank (which no longer exists.)

I had a regular customer who came in almost daily with deposits for whatever company he worked for. I remember how sour he always was and that was unacceptable to me. Whenever someone was all frowns, I considered it my duty to make them smile...and I usually accomplished this - but not with this guy. He just had a dead stare with absolutely no expression and that is why I remember him so well.

Piece #2

Around the same timeframe, I was rollerskating in "Beautiful Downtown Burbank" to the Golden Mall where I was mailing some letters.

Okay now, I was lookin' cute in my blue satin shorts and long blonde hair and twiggy 20-something body. (Note to my kids who are probably gagging about now: rollerskating AND satin shorts were all the rage...then.)

These are almost identical to my blue satin shorts I wore.
They are now selling them as "vintage" - harrumph!

On the way home, still skating, I noticed a green panel van pull around the corner and stop. A guy got out and approached me.

(Another side note: As my friends and family will attest - not much scares me - I even went home with some "ax murderers" one night... but that's another story.)

I continued to skate and he stopped me with a friendly look and a question. (Note: This was NOT my bank customer, but someone else.) His question was "will you model for me?" Back in those days, people were still being "discovered" in situations on the street.

I, however, was not in the LEAST bit impressed or interested and politely but firmly told him no. He continued to try and convince me and handed me his business card. I politely but firmly tore it up in front of him and threw it on the ground and told him that I was not going to model for him. That is when I continued to skate home, unruffled.

I all but forgot both of these pieces until -

Piece #3

I was watching the evening news one night and the top story was that they had caught the Hillside Strangler. (I vaguely knew there was someone on the loose, but it seemed like there were a bunch of serial killers around that time.) On the television that very night was the man who I saw EVERY FRIGGIN' DAY at my bank!!

Piece #4

What's more is they said he was working with an accomplice (who had not yet been caught.) And EVERY one of their victims looked like me! Long blonde hair and blue eyes. Their modus operandi was to stalk their victims and lure them into a van by asking them to model and then torture, rape and murder them!

So....that's my "I was stalked by a serial killer" story. It's a cool story to tell, but I feel that I just got lucky. I mean, I know that God protects me, but what about the others? The ones that weren't so lucky? I don't think it is because I'm particularly special.... it's something that I will probably never understand. I suppose it is that age old question, "Why do bad things happen to good people?"

My answer: I dunno.