Back in the early 80's when I used to look like this
I stayed for a time with my sweet grandma Gerda in the Mesa house she lived in during the winter months. It was a fun time in my life, working full time at a job I loved, taking a few college classes and dating, especially this guy. I have always had an attraction to men who are equipped with a pen in their pocket.
Grandma's neighborhood was full of other grandmas, great grandmas and a few great greats. Next door lived Cora who was as thin as the singular crutch she used to get around. I loved chatting with Cora. She had a sardonic wit under soft white curls. She spoke with an Arizona drawl as she told me her strategy to deal with burglars. "You see, I keep ma iron right ta the side of my bed. When I hear a burglar I'll plug it in right quick. Then I'll pretend I'm asleep and when he gets close I'll whack him right upside the head!"
I have made a lot of fun of Cora and her self defense strategy over the years, but last week she must have been chortling in heaven as she saw me read this article in the Arizona Republic.
Phoenix resident kills intruder with clothes iron
A suspected burglar was killed early Friday morning after breaking into a Phoenix apartment when the tenant inside hit him in the head with a clothes iron.
Moses Taylor, 20, broke into a window of an apartment in the 2500 block of West Ocotillo Road about 2:53 a.m. Friday morning and woke up a 29-year-old man inside, Phoenix Police Department spokesman Sgt. Tommy Thompson said.
During a struggle, the resident struck Taylor in the head with a clothes iron. Taylor was taken to the hospital but died of his injuries on arrival. Police believe Taylor, who was only wearing a shirt and boxers at the time of the attempted burglary, may have been under the influence of drugs and alcohol, Thompson said. Police are investigating the incident as a homicide but believe the apartment resident was acting in self-defense, Thompson said.
Moses Taylor, 20, broke into a window of an apartment in the 2500 block of West Ocotillo Road about 2:53 a.m. Friday morning and woke up a 29-year-old man inside, Phoenix Police Department spokesman Sgt. Tommy Thompson said.
During a struggle, the resident struck Taylor in the head with a clothes iron. Taylor was taken to the hospital but died of his injuries on arrival. Police believe Taylor, who was only wearing a shirt and boxers at the time of the attempted burglary, may have been under the influence of drugs and alcohol, Thompson said. Police are investigating the incident as a homicide but believe the apartment resident was acting in self-defense, Thompson said.
I think its time for Larainy to develop a new self defense system...I'm going to call it
Tae Kwon Cora: With or Without Steam
Posts
13 comments:
I thought that was a bacon press. You can iron clothes with it too? This is why I read your blog.
Cora was a wise woman. I think I will get irons for every room, that way I will be prepared.
Are they going to "press" charges?
Side note: It is unfortunate that the burgler died.
Gives a whole new meaning to packing iron! "Next door lived Cora who was as thin as the singular crutch she used to get around" might be one of the best lines I've ever read!
Looks like Cora knew knew what was up!
This must have been such a strange experience, running across this article.
=)
PS. I enjoyed your description of Cora, too...
Well, I'm thrilled to learn there is an actual use for irons. I quit ironing 18 years ago (the reason why is a story all by itself) and though we do own an iron, it doesn't get much use. I never thought of using it as a weapon. Cora sure had a practical side!
You have the funniest stories to tell. This is a great one. Some of the comments are funny, too. I like the story because I had a great aunt Cora, although I never met her. I wonder how she used her iron????
Silly Rickster always wants me to learn to use a gun. Heck, I gotta tell him about Cora. I don't like to iron but I can swint one pretty good if confronted, I know. I love your story, the man with the pen in the pocket, and Cora. I know she's smiling down on that tale and cheering for the person who was almost robbed. It really killed the guy? Yikes!!
I wonder if said 'tenant' had a grandma named Cora.
And, btw, I'll be ticked off if they end up charging him with homicide for protecting himself....even if he did whack that burglar a little too hard.
That was nothing short of awesome. Wherever Cora is, I'll bet she's proud that someone used her strategy with 'ta iron. I hope she met the burglar at the gates.
definitely with steam! makes for a better sizzle when you smack em.
I'm not a fan of guns but Im all for irons!!!
Although man it is sad the burgled died - I just want to hurt people not kill them (HA HA) I crack myself up!
I adore the way you described Cora - you have a wicked awesome pen!!! (ok ok I know you typed it - just go along with me;-)
Love it! Up here it would more likely be a snow shovel!
Well call me a wicked woman but I'm sure not feeling any sorrow for the burglar. You break into somebody's house that isn't yours, you take your chances.
Now I'm off to buy an iron!
Post a Comment