Bourbon, boogeymen and baes

Having just come home from a two week road trip with the Mister, our fridge and pantry is empty. As I was driving home earlier tonight, contemplating another dinner of apples, popcorn and Bourbon (the three staples we do have), I made a snap decision to swing by the grocery store for some real food.

Okay, “real-er” food, because that Bourbon is pretty damn real.

I get incredibly absorbed reading labels when I’m in the store, so I don’t pay much attention to what’s going on around me but I did notice a strange guy standing near me - no cart, no basket and nothing in his hands - a few different times. My initial reaction?

“Is plain clothes security really following me? I mean, I have an entire cart of food here. They can’t possibly think I’m stealing this whole buggy.”

I was standing in the dairy aisle when a woman shopping in front of me turned around and approached me with the biggest bag of cheese ev-ah in her hands. She thrust it towards me like she was going to ask a question. I prepared to answer, “Yes!” because the answer to a big bag o’ cheese is always, “Yes!” when she said, “Don’t turn around, but there is this really strange guy standing behind you…”

“Yeah, I noticed he’s following me,” I said.

“Oh, I thought he was following me,” she said.

“Shit, maybe he is following you,” I responded. “Am I following you too?”

(This is what we refer to in the family as a #BlondeMoment.)

We talked about the creepy dude for a minute as we watched him make a beeline for the back of the store and then agreed to wait for each other and walk to the parking lot together.

Because women are fucking amazing.

As I was checking out I told the clerk about the strange guy following women around the store. He, apparently, wasn’t plain clothes security at all and soon the manager of the store had tracked him down and asked him to leave.

My whole drive home I kept thinking, “What if creepy dude is following me?” Mr. Adams was still at work and I was going home to an empty house. And then I remembered that empty home had three Pitbulls and that I had no less than 20 of my neighbors on speed dial and the ex-Marine across the street was most likely outside working in her yard.

There was no need to worry about going home. My safety is well cared for at all times, even being a Detroiter. Especially because I am a Detroiter. I have taken great care to build a community around me to protect me physically as a matter of practicality.

It got me thinking…had I given as much care to building the community around me that can protect me emotionally and spiritually as well? It’s every bit as important as my physical safety.

As I’ve written about in the past, when I left my job of 16 years last June just after graduating from my Master’s program, I felt so lost and so alone. My coworkers were gone, my classmates were gone - my foundation seemingly dissipated overnight.

As I contemplated who was caring for my mind and spirit, I scanned my new landscape. I saw the many women that I am now surrounded with - the new community that has been built in the past ten months - the girlfriends I have reconnected with at the SheHive, the KeyHolders, the SheHive regulars that feel 100% more like friends than clients, my Thursday morning Masterminds group, the many amazing female business owners and kindred souls that support the work of the SheHive with theirs - and I knew that the answer was yes. For the first time in my life I am completely surrounded by amazing women that are fiercely devoted to protecting my emotional and spiritual well-being, as I am theirs.

The women of the SheHive, in particular, are so fucking amazing. If you haven't been out to meet them before, you MUST.

Who's caring for your safety and well-being? I’d love to here about them! Shoot me an email or drop a comment below

With much love and gratitude,