Call me narcissist if you must but this blog is all about ME. I have another blog about my kids, whom I love and adore writing about. But I was Nicole a long time before I was mom and I don't intend to give up being Nicole overnight.

p.s.
You can read all about my kids at Naptime Optional.
Or you can follow along on our Arizona adventure on my 365 project blog.

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Engage Brain

I often tell my children that they need to think about the consequences of their actions BEFORE they act. In fact, I sound like a broken record when it comes to the subject. Think, think, think I say. Use your head!

I should take my own advice.

Yesterday as I was walking out the door to take my oldest to school a tall youngish gentleman was standing on my porch. He started rambling something off to me in perfect English but with a very think accent that I didn't recognize.

I kindly blew him off because I needed to get my child to school. He asked if he could come back in an hour or so and I said yes just so I could get away.

But I should mention we had had a big storm early that morning and it was cold outside and this guy was in shorts and a thin polo shirt.

As I am walking down my driveway with him he is prattling on about being unprepared for Utah weather and I so I offer to go back in my house and grab him something to warmer to wear.

I rush in and grab the first thing I can find, because I am in a hurry. I dash back outside with one of my husband's coats and hand it to him. He puts it on and goes on on about how it feels like paradise and thank you so much and he'll be back later.

He did in fact come back later, at which point he gave me his whole sales pitch for over priced children's books. I listened politely (because his accent was amusing-oh he was from Latvia) but then declined his product.

As he was packing his stuff up to go he asked me about the jacket-in as much as the sun had still not come out and he was on bicycle he was offering to purchase the jacket. He said he had looked at some at Walmart recently and they were around $20 so he would pay me that for the jacket.

I knew I had paid only $9 for that particular jacket because of end of season prices and it was really just a cheap coat anyway. Seriously. This is not the type of coat you would take skiing. So I felt bad taking money since so I implosivly just told him to keep it. He was a bit taken aback, asked if I was sure, and then proceeded to thank me profusely.

I guess since he figured I was a sucker he then proceeded explain to me that he would be selling his books through the end of the week and then he would be back delivering personally all that he had sold and that he only had his bicycle and did I know somebody who may need a little extra cash who would be willing to drive him around to deliver his books.

Once again, acting without thinking, I gave him the name and address of my bishop. (The local leader of my church congregation.) In my head he would know all the people in the neighborhood who were out of work right now who may be interested in a small odd job like that.

At that point this guy apparently felt quite comfortable around me (and yes he was in my house, and no my husband wasn't home and no I don't typically do that!!!) and so he asked if he could use my bathroom.

Of course I said yes.

It wasn't until he left that I suddenly realized all I had done.

I gave away my husband's coat!!!!! Yea, sure I bought it on sale at the end of the season a few years ago but we're going into the beginning of the season and it was going to cost me more than $9 to replace it for the upcoming fall.

I had violated my bishop's privacy by giving out his name and address.

I'd let him in my home.

I am not one to be overly scared about things but suddenly all those emails my mom forwards me about con artists and people pretending to be door to door salesmen who are really burglars just casing the joint flooded into my head.

Plus I gave him my husband's coat!

I believe it may be time to get a No Soliciting sign. Because even though I did manage to throw the Kirby salesman out on my front porch (I should blog that story someday....it's a good one!) I don't always exhibit wisdom when it comes to the door to door types.

7 comments:

ME Moon said...

sounds like me..... we got a peephole since we can walk up to the front door without someone seeing us (unless they are peeking in my window with face against the glass).
and we have a no solicitors sign.
i have, more than once, walked up to the peephole, realized i don't know who it is, and walked away.... WITH my kids waving at whomever through the window.
i made justin install my peephole for safety reasons: here i am, home alone with kids (babies really, at the time) and some stranger comes to the door. i have to open my screen door to talk to them, what's to stop them from rushing in? i always felt like an idiot when i opened my door like that, but only after i _closed_ the door when it was all over.
you can never be to safe! (or smart, or whatever ;) )

Holly said...

Well, you must have gotten a sense that the man was all right. I think people have a sense.

I have gotten to the point I just don't answer my door. It's kind of sad. Unless I know that someone is coming over, I just don't go to the door.

HeidiPie said...

Yep, I don't let people in when they knock on the door and I don't know them. And I schedule people fixing things for a time when Josh is home. We've got to be safe here. And really, if you felt fine about all that maybe it was fine this time. Just pay attention to what you're feeling.

Principessa said...

Yet another bonus to living where we do! The door to door people don't know where our door is!

Emilee said...

haha! that IS scary, i should not laugh. glad he was not a murderer. you are always so sweet and caring about people who come to your door. and to top it off, the bishop is out of work...wonder how that went doown...

orangemily said...

You are way too nice!
Next time just say no!

Allison said...

Wow you are nice! I did get a laugh out of it (since you are okay)