There Goes The Neighborhood

I really do sincerely hope that I am just being paranoid, but I still think I made the right decision.

It all started on my afternoon run, well, actually it finished there too. Anyways, I was about 2 miles into my run when I looked up and saw two people walking towards me. This is not an unusual occurrence. There are lots of friendly folks in the vicinity who use the walking path to get out and enjoy nature. And over the past year, I have become quite familiar with most of their faces.

There are young couples with small children, lots of dog lovers and even the neighborhood lush gets out and takes a wobbly stroll occasionally. You can smell her Martini' from a 100 ft away. Once she was even seen holding her martini glass as she stumbled along the nature trail.

But today, the easy going feeling disappeared. I looked up to make eye contact with the two men approaching me and they were both looking directly at me. But the taller one had this crazy look in his eye as he was all but slobbering on himself and grinning like a Cheshire cat. I also noticed he was carrying 2 towels, which might not appear to be so odd if he was considering taking a muddy swim, or needed to wipe the perspiration from himself as he exercised.... But these were larger than hand towels. I also noticed each of them had an overstuffed pocket, nothing hanging out of it, but definitely full. They were not dressed for a walk in the park. One of them had that look of cheap sophistication, while the other looked as if he hadn't shopped in years!

After I passed them I just kept heading to the pathway leading out, instead of making another lap. I did not like the way the tall fellow was ginning at me and I definitely did not want to meet him on the other side of the park. I continued my run through some neighboring streets and came upon a rise in the pavement where you could look down upon the pond and parts of the trail. I took a quick look to see if the shady characters were still down there. Yep, and just as I was looking, one of them waves. I quickly scan the area and there is no one else to be seen. Surely he did not see me 1/4 mile away.

I start towards home and just before making the final turn that leads home, I glance over again and now the other one is waving.

Crap, now it seems that my little nature trail has an insecure feel too it.... Maybe I should just change my time of day, or do you think I should avoid it altogether.... Could it have all been just coincidence? Am I being paranoid. I really do not want to have to load down my pockets with all kinds of security measures just to talk a stroll through the park.. Dammit.