I had an interesting morning. I was out taking a walk, and when I came back, tucked in the wooded side of our driveway almost secluded from view was a car that I didn’t notice earlier.

It unnerved me. Was there someone in it? Or was it just parked there? There were plenty of other places one could park. Why here? Were they trying to hide the car? Was someone up at the house trying to find me even though the gate was locked? I could not see.

Since it was quiet around the neighborhood, and there wasn’t another soul around, I stood there for a few minutes pondering the situation. I didn’t know what to do.

I didn’t want to walk by the strange car because someone could be hiding outside of my view, and there wouldn’t be much I could do if they tried to grab or assault me. It was unlikely someone would hear me scream. I didn’t want to go to our front door which was a distance from the driveway either because again there wouldn’t be much I could do if someone tried to accost me. So I stood there thought.

Read more Not knowing what to do, I decided to see if anyone was in the car. I walked on the far side of the street getting only as close as was required to see inside the car, and the car was empty. I could see the license plate, and it was not a local vehicle.

In the past, cars have been dumped in our area — as was a body — when we first moved in — within 5 miles of here. So was this foul play? That’s all I could think about.

I thought about which neighbor to approach. The one on my side of the car was too elderly to help. She is alone and in her mid 80s, and just as I contemplated going past the car to get to my other neighbors, he drove by and was I ever happy to see him!! At least I wouldn’t have to walk up to the house alone.

I ran down his driveway and ask him to walk me to my door. On the walk back, he told me he spotted the car at 6:00 a.m. this morning and figured we had a visitor. I told him I didn’t know the car, and then he suggested I call the police.

We looked the car over. It had a sticker that said in Spanish that it was imported from Mexico or something to that effect. It was a newer model Nissan (within the past five years), in good condition and all that was visible inside the car were napkins, which looked slightly used. Otherwise all was in order. The doors were locked.

I couldn’t help but wonder if this was a stolen car, or if someone was disposing of a car and something way more sinister. Honestly, I was rattled to the core. The car was clearly parked so a person could have exited without being seen if there was a security camera present. The trees were perfectly position to the car to provide cover on exiting. That bothered me!

Who was this?

I went into the house and called my husband who didn’t answer at work. I left him a message and told him I was calling the police. My husband never called back before the police arrived.

The police came, took a report and told me if I didn’t want to pay to have it towed now, that they would “red tag it” and leave it for 48 hours after which time they would impound it.

I thought ‘oh yuck’. What if this is sinister?! I have to look at that car for the next two days…but I didn’t have any other options because I wasn’t going to pay for the towing.

The police suggested that perhaps someone’s car broke down. Of course, it was plausible. They looked up the owners name and share it with me. It was Oscar and X XXXX. I didn’t know an Oscar. Never met a man with that name in my life. I asked them from what town, and they said they didn’t remember.

I was really rattled. I let my emotions run away with me, and I feared someone with sinister intentions was walking around my neighborhood. When would they be back? Was I safe out in the yard? The police walked the neigbhorhood to make sure everything was in place.

And then when I went back into the house after talking to the police, there was a message on my answering machine. My husband was talking and his tone was visibly annoyed. He said I needed to call him right away — that the car was Oscars — his co-worker! He reminded me they were sharing a ride starting today. Today was the first day they were car pooling!!! He feared I towed away poor Oscar’s car on their first day of a shared ride. My husband wasn’t happy contemplating what he might have to tell Oscar about what happened to his car.

Thankfully, I didn’t tow the car away so his worries were dissolved and the humor of the situation hit the both of us when I answered the phone as he tried to reach me again.

I completely forgot!

I immediately called the police and the neighbors to explain my forgetfulness! I never envisioned a car in the driveway when my husband told me he was carpooling.

I also high-tailed it out to the driveway, and I removed the big red sticker threatening the impounding of Oscar’s car. Was I ever embarrassed!!

I sure let fear and my emotions overcome my calm logical thinking. I think I’ve been reading too many crime stories.