Be Aware of your Surroundings!!!

[Kendra K. Rhoton]

Well, this blog post is way off topic, but I think it is an important lesson for everyone so I decided to post it on here anyways... here is my story.

Saturday evening I had just gotten done working my second job as a cheer instructor. I had decided to run to Walmart to pick up a few things that I knew we would need for our honeymoon. I was standing in the travel stuff isle picking out small size shampoo, hair spray, etc... when this older woman approached me and said...

Older woman: Are you here by yourself?
Me: Yes...
Older woman: Well, I just wanted to let you know that a man has been watching you stand here for the past five minutes and he is starting to worry me....
Me: Okay, well thanks for letting me know.
Older woman: Just remember you need to be aware of your surroundings.
Me: Thank you for watching out for me.

At this point I wasn't worried because I thought maybe she was blowing the situation into something that it wasn't, so I went about my business without much thought as to what she said... a few minutes later she approaches me again...

Older woman: Will you follow me so I can show you want he looks like?
Me: Sure.
(We move to a different isle)
Older woman: There he is... in the khaki pants, black shirt, and black hat... he has been following you around the store... please watch out for yourself...
Me: Thank you, I will...
Older Women: I'm getting ready to leave would you like me to tell someone... ?
Me: No I think I'll be fine, thank you again.

She leaves... and now I am officially scared. I think about leaving the store right away, but once again, I think to myself that I don't want to make a big deal out of something that isn't so I proceed to shop and pick up things that I need... I move on to looking at slip covers... and while in that isle I notice this man that the older lady had pointed out to me walking back and forth the adjacent isle... he never approached me, he would just look at me making sure he knew where I was... at this point I was totally freaked so I got my cart and hurried to the grocery section to pick up my yogurt and cereal and get the heck out of there... as I was walking that way I looked behind me and from a large distance I saw the same man following me....

Once in the grocery isle I didn't see him from some time... I got my stuff and hurried into the check out lane. At this point I thought I had lost him and then began thinking that this lady had gotten me scared over nothing... I mean why would this guy be following me???

All the check out lanes where full so I picked one I thought would go fast... while standing there I turned around and this man was standing in the clothing section behind me just watching me... again I freaked! Soon someone got in line behind me... and then he stepped in line behind them. At this point I felt a relief thinking that I would be long gone before he could even check out... keep in mind though he only had a thing of cleaning spray that he was buying. I finally got up to the counter to pay... my heart was beating through my chest at this point and I was scared to death. I think about saying something to the person that is checking me out but the man is standing right there and if I am blowing this out of portion I didn't want to look like a fool. So I decided to not say anything. At this point I noticed another man in a green shirt with the word NAVY across the front of it standing against the wall in front of the check out lane. I didn't think anything of it... I just figured he was waiting on someone. At this point I'm almost finished with my transactions and I'm ready to bolt. I take one last look behind me just to make sure the man who had been following me was still there. HE ISN'T! The man had set down his cleaning spray that I thought he was going to buy! I start looking around and he is now standing beside the man in the green NAVY shirt and they are both staring at me!!!!! It was then that I realize the man in the green NAVY shirt I had also seen around me quite a lot as I was shopping!

I put my stuff in my cart and start walking... FAST... I look behind me and sure enough they are following me out... it was then that I decided I needed help! I approached one of the Walmart workers and said...

Me: Excuse me... there are two men behind me... one in a black shirt and the other in a green NAVY shirt... they have been following me around the store... please help me... will you get someone to escort me out to me car!
Walmart Worker: Sure ma'am, stay right here!

I look back and the two men are now standing up against the wall again pretending to just be in conversation with one another. Soon the Walmart Worker comes back and escorts me to my car. I jumped in locked the doors and got the heck outta there! I never saw the two men come out of the store.

I'm not gonna lie... the whole situation scared me to death... I don't know what exactly the men were up to... maybe nothing... but it sure seemed like something. And I think the real reason it scared me so much was because I have a degree in Criminal Justice and have taken many classes about serial killers etc. and my soon to be husband is a police officer so I know the importance of never let your guard down and never trust anyone... but I did and if that lady had not come along and said something to me... would I have even noticed what was going on? Maybe, maybe not!

I never use to be scared to go shopping by myself, to go running and on walks with Remington by myself, or to stay home at night while Dan was at work, but since this happened I am scared. You just never know what could happen! So just a warning to everyone.... as the Older Woman told me... "You need to be aware of your surroundings..." This was a huge lesson to me and I hope it is one to all of you!

[BetteB]

Oh my! I am so glad you are okay. It's horrible to think what could have happened. Thank goodness for that older woman. What an angel! It goes to show you, go with your gut and say something. It's true that often women feel foolish or paranoid for saying something makes them uncomfortable -- BUT so many times intuition is right on. Thank you for sharing your experience.

[Libby & Bentley]

Yikes!! So scary..Thanks for sharing the reminder to be aware of ourselves!

[Nancy Sunderland]

freaky! so glad you're ok!

[HANNAH 8/2/07 & HONEY 7/2/08]

You hear so much on the internet about stalking and so many ways people are stalked its frighting. It's amazing what some people will do, and sometimes the ones we think are following could be security watching shoppers for shop lifting? You just don't know...glad you got help and all worked out alright for you.

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

Wow!!! You were very lucky! That is scary and you know they were up to no good. You are brave to even leave the store! I would have called DH. What if they got in a car and followed you? That is so very very scary! I had a stalker years ago, I dont know who he was, he knew when I was alone and always called (obscenely) when DH was at work. I was utterly terrified. I was relieved when we moved to another province. That ended it. This is also the reason why I never ever use my full real name online. I think with a full name and your location it would be too easy for a twisted person to find you if they were so inclined. (Unless you of course have a common name like Smith in a city as big as New York LOL!) But if I gave you my name and my town you could show right up at my door.

[JBAdorableDoodles]

thanks for sharing & glad you are ok....I will take this as TIP of the day!

[Beth and Gang]

Great of you to share this with us, Kendra. Sometimes we all need to be more aware, Bless that angel that was watching over you!! What a kind, good woman to step in and put her neck out for you.

[Miranda]

this story just gave me serious goose bumps!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I think that lady was your guardian angel. I am glad you are okay!

[Kathy Wilson]

Yikes, I am so glad you are okay! One item you might want to add to your purse is a small digital camera. I recently purchased a Cool Pix by Nikon for $130. Not a bad idea to take their photo. Glad the person at WalMart was helpful, too! I've gotten to where I don't shop after dark unless I'm with at least one other person. Also, get a can of wasp spray for protection. No, I'm not kidding. The idea came recently in my e-mail. Apparently you get a better aim and it's easier to take someone intent on harming you by surprise than if you had pepper spray.