I Find This Troubling On So Many Levels

THGGM is working hard at the new house. He thinks that I am working hard here.

Nope.

I'm thinking hard. I'm wondering hard. I'm pondering big time.

And this is the story:

Lest you think that I lived an idealized childhood, I've been reminded that I did not.


For a portion of my childhood, we lived next door to the most horrible family imaginable. A family with six children.


I actually do not know how my parents stuck it out.


These people ran all sorts of illegal activities, including a gambling ring and a prostitution ring besides dealing all manner of drugs and just being disgusting human beings.


If speed dial had existed in the 1970's, all of our neighbors would have had Child Protective Services on theirs.


All six of the children were younger than me, so we were never 'friends'.


I will never forget the day that FINALLY something was done. A social worker arrived to pick up these severely neglected and ill-used children. The way they all cried and carried on one would have thought that they'd lived the lives of "The Brady Bunch".


If I remember correctly, the kids came and went many times. The final removal was based on information one of the daughter's gave. After that, they all moved out.

But, not before leaving one final 'gift'. A pan of gasoline on the stove. Thankfully, a kitchen curtain started fire and alerted a neighbor across the street from us who called the fire department. They discovered the gas, and said if it would have blown, so would have all the houses on our side of the street (this house was the middle house in a row of five - all extremely close together). My sister and I were home alone when all of this transpired.

Over the years we would occasionally hear things about this family. Mostly on the six o'clock news. Things did not go well for most of them.

The oldest daughter, who seemed to have suffered the most, was murdered in California by a serial killer.

The three boys had long records, including attempted murder.

Two of the girls seemed to make it. The younger one was placed in permanent foster care at an early age. I've read a few letters to the editor from the second daughter, who has views on the foster care system. These usually appear after someone has slipped through the system and there is a public outcry of 'why?'

Really. The stuff we knew about this family was horrific. I cannot even begin to imagine what they must have lived through and suffered at the hands of their parents - who it shouldn't seem surprising, were really really stupid people. And I'm sure we did not know half of it.

Last night, just before I was heading to bed, I flipped on the news. A picture was shown, and I thought, 'Hey. I know that guy.'

One of the old neighbor boys. Out of prison after 18 years served for attempted murder.

Stabbed his girlfriend, stabbed her defender to death.

He's still on the run.

The entire thing just sickens me.

My parents, my neighbors, the teachers at school ALL tried to do right for these children.

I'm not trying to draw any conclusions here. But seeing that face brought it all back. Scenes from my childhood. Memories of a family gone wrong. All wrong.

There. I'm done. Just thought someone might want to know where my head is while I'm throwing nine years of living into boxes.