Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
-- Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 5
Yes. 1976 broke engagement to John because I found him with another woman. Nevertheless he followed me, called me constantly and left flowers inside my car. (How did he get inside my locked car?) I was sure the stalking was over but a few years later he showed up at my job. For all I know he is still out there.
Yes, in college I had someone who sent me flowers, left money on my cafeteria account, left small gifts on my desk in classes. It was both flattering and a bit frightening. He stopped after a while but years later I found him on Facebook and he admitted to me that he was my benefactor. I asked him why he'd never just asked me out for a date. He said that he was too intimidated by me to do that. He felt I was "too good" to date someone like him. I was dumbfounded. I had a bit of a crush on him too.
No, but we did have an actual convicted rapist who was on parole follow one of my roommates back to the house and try to break in a couple of nights in a row. The police staked out the house and caught him, he went back to prison.
I don't think I've ever had a secret admirer, but I have had a stalker. I yelled at her one day, "How would you like to be arrested?" and never saw her again.
A few actually, back when I was a single parent with young kids. I called. A guy from my friend kept calling late at night was peeking through the windows. I called the cops n he got caught in my yard. Made me very cautious n paranoid.
Yes! Twice....and nothing admirable about either. One was continuous phone calls back in the early 70s. I reported "him" to the police. I had no idea who it was. They suggested I set up a "meeting" and they would also be there in plainclothes. But I refused...my point was I didn't know if the person knew what I looked like or where I lived etc., and I wasn't prepared to give myself away like that. The telephone company suggested I get a sports' whistle and every time he call I blew it full force into the phone. After my doing so a couple times...the calls stopped.
When I was managing the resort on Hinchinbrook Island I received a weird phone call one night...there was only one phone line to the island...to the resort. It went to my office and extended across to my little abode. It was a very weird call...He called himself "Thomas Wolfe"...only the call. I wasn't too put off by it...because I was on the island; and the only inhabitants were me, my staff and guests. This was in the mid-80s...before mobile/cell phones.
Nope, thank goodness. However, I do have a friend who told me she'd been having a problem where the fellow just wouldn't stop contacting her. Her son-in-law finally had to intervene.
Fortunately, only online, but still very unsettling. I ended up taking an extended blogging break, changed my blog direction and name, and seem to have kept the problem away.
During the war a large red-faced boy used to bring a bucket of coal round to present to my father. I was furious that my father would accept it as I had no intention of going out with him.
I did have an elderly patient (when I was young; 26 or 27-ish) who talked about "If he was younger then...." and he described in great detail to me having a dream in which we were ice skating together. I took it as a compliment.
Yes. 1976 broke engagement to John because I found him with another woman. Nevertheless he followed me, called me constantly and left flowers inside my car. (How did he get inside my locked car?) I was sure the stalking was over but a few years later he showed up at my job. For all I know he is still out there.
ReplyDeleteYes, in college I had someone who sent me flowers, left money on my cafeteria account, left small gifts on my desk in classes. It was both flattering and a bit frightening. He stopped after a while but years later I found him on Facebook and he admitted to me that he was my benefactor. I asked him why he'd never just asked me out for a date. He said that he was too intimidated by me to do that. He felt I was "too good" to date someone like him. I was dumbfounded. I had a bit of a crush on him too.
ReplyDeleteNO, thank goodness. That would creep me out.
ReplyDeleteIf I had, they were good at keeping secrets.
ReplyDeleteNo but I'm not sure it would bother me unless it went on and on.
ReplyDeleteNo, but we did have an actual convicted rapist who was on parole follow one of my roommates back to the house and try to break in a couple of nights in a row. The police staked out the house and caught him, he went back to prison.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever had a secret admirer, but I have had a stalker. I yelled at her one day, "How would you like to be arrested?" and never saw her again.
ReplyDeleteNo, thank heavens. Your experience in the 70's sounds very creepy.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, several of both. Perhaps John is now married to someone who is making him miserable :)
ReplyDeleteA few actually, back when I was a single parent with young kids. I called. A guy from my friend kept calling late at night was peeking through the windows. I called the cops n he got caught in my yard. Made me very cautious n paranoid.
ReplyDeleteNo thank goodness. Must be terrifying.
ReplyDeleteYes! Twice....and nothing admirable about either. One was continuous phone calls back in the early 70s. I reported "him" to the police. I had no idea who it was. They suggested I set up a "meeting" and they would also be there in plainclothes. But I refused...my point was I didn't know if the person knew what I looked like or where I lived etc., and I wasn't prepared to give myself away like that. The telephone company suggested I get a sports' whistle and every time he call I blew it full force into the phone. After my doing so a couple times...the calls stopped.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was managing the resort on Hinchinbrook Island I received a weird phone call one night...there was only one phone line to the island...to the resort. It went to my office and extended across to my little abode. It was a very weird call...He called himself "Thomas Wolfe"...only the call. I wasn't too put off by it...because I was on the island; and the only inhabitants were me, my staff and guests. This was in the mid-80s...before mobile/cell phones.
Nope, thank goodness. However, I do have a friend who told me she'd been having a problem where the fellow just wouldn't stop contacting her. Her son-in-law finally had to intervene.
ReplyDeleteFortunately, only online, but still very unsettling. I ended up taking an extended blogging break, changed my blog direction and name, and seem to have kept the problem away.
ReplyDeleteNo....can't say that I have. Thank goodness.
ReplyDeleteDuring the war a large red-faced boy used to bring a bucket of coal round to present to my father. I was furious that my father would accept it as I had no intention of going out with him.
ReplyDeleteI'm thankful to say a hearty "No" to that!
ReplyDeleteI did have an elderly patient (when I was young; 26 or 27-ish) who talked about "If he was younger then...." and he described in great detail to me having a dream in which we were ice skating together. I took it as a compliment.
ReplyDeleteThank God , never even when I was younger . I cannot imagine how scary it must be.
ReplyDeleteNoooo. Not that I know of. No.
ReplyDeleteHow about you?