Don't judge a book by its cover

A few weeks ago I went for a run in the morning before work (which I hadn't done for a while - even to say it hasn't been a while would be an exaggeration).  I noticed an older boat of a car parked in an odd spot (kind of the middle of nowhere). A man was standing outside of it with the trunk open and passenger door open. He was Windexing the passenger window - it was 5:45 in the morning.

The scene was definitely weird to me and my mind started to come up with random scenarios.

The one it settled on was that he was a kidnapper. I don't know why - the man was not threatening in any way - but it was the combo of the car (with the trunk open) and him windexing the freaking window at 5:45 AM.

I noticed there was a lady behind me walking her dogs. I kept running and let my mind wonder at the possibilities. "Does he use the people he kidnaps skin to make a skin outfit for himself - no wait - that's silence of the lambs".   "Does he like tall women, chubby women, redheads, etc."

{Side note - for those of you who think I am a freak - tell me what else my mind should be thinking about when I run. It has to drift off somewhere, doesn't it?}

I decided to change my route home - I was just too freaked out to go by the car again.  In my heart of hearts I new there was no harm or immediate threat to myself, but I secretly decided to watch the news that night to see if he made the crime report. 

I then wondered about the lady I saw behind me walking the dogs and wondered if he kidnapped her. (Can we say wild imagination?)

Luckily, I saw her down the road so I ran past her, and against all my better judgement - I decided to ask her if she was as creeped out by the guy windexing his windows with the trunk open.  She said no -he is there all the time. He's a runner and usually is stretching or something.

Boy did I feel like a ding bat (or rather I decided my imagination was a ding bat - I was just looking out for it - ha ha).

Fast forward to this week. I went running in the morning again (woo hoo - twice in one summer - wow).  On the return loop I ran past the street I had seen the man before and low and behold he was there running in my direction.  He make the corner before I got there. I figured, in my young age, I would eventually pass him (I estimate his age at 65+).  He was slightly ahead of me and I COULD NOT FOR THE LIFE OF ME CATCH UP WITH HIM. He is freaking fast!   I was shocked and appalled. I know I'm no speed demon - but come on - there's gotta be a 30 year age gap!  Nope - not a chance - the dude was gone!

So - the moral of the story is to never judge a book by its cover...

(or if you Windex your car windows in the wee early hours of the morning... with the trunk open... you'll run faster).