Sufficient Security

Behind Locked Doors

“I have six locks on my doors all in a row. When I go out, I lock every other one. I figure no matter how long somebody stands there picking locks, they are always locking three.” Elayne Boosler

The other day, when Liza and I were walking, I noticed that every yard in my neighborhood has one of those little blue hexagonal signs naming their security service. We live behind cyber shields these days, with lights and motion sensors, and sirens. And if that doesn't stop 'them' we're armed to the teeth. Some people even keep semi-automatic weapons handy, just in case. Is that strange to anyone but me? It got me wondering, “What the heck! When did this happen?”

When I was a child, we went to my grandparents in Jefferson City, TN for two weeks in summer. Every night before bed, my grandfather would turn three large bolt locks on the front door. We all laughed about it behind his back because he was such an oddity. In that little tiny town, there was no crime worth spitting at, much less anything requiring three locks. It was mid-twentieth-century. In most neighborhoods no one locked their doors, day or night.

I know—times have changed. I get that. I just am not sure what happened to change them so dramatically. Is it that we have so much more “stuff” that needs protecting? Is it that we live in a constant state of fear and paranoia, and if so, why? Is it that we're so in love with technology, we've put our very lives in its care? Whatever it is, we obviously don't feel safe without that ever-present link to the authorities. I've decided to take it to the next level—I'm going to a higher power! I'm making one of those little blue signs that says, “Witch Lives Here.” We'll see how many trespassers I get.

                                                         In the Spirit,

                                                              Jane