"Boys, you can break.You find out how much they can take": The Attack

Hi my name is Tom.

(hi tom.)

I am a SAHD. Three beautiful angels. A girl and two boys, not in that order but all intact with another little on the way.

I have anger issues.

I yell.

I’m a yeller. It’s what I do.

Last summer I was diagnosed with PTSD stemming from an attack I describe below that took place August 16^th, 2014, the day of my 25^th high school reunion, in front of my house, and in front of my children. At 11:30 am.

What follows is the FB post I made two days after the beating once the cobwebs began to clear from my concussion.

HERE IS THE LATEST NEWS FLASH FROM THE WEEKEND!!!!! Yes, a new neighbor has brought an influx of felons. Two being arrested in two nights because of me. This morning there were fifteen on the porch drunk at 11:00 blaring hateful, racist, rap/hip-hop music (which I listen to on occasion). I walked across the street, introduced myself and calmly told them if my kids are out and they didn't turn it down I'd call the police. Yada, yada, radio is turned down I walk away. More talking behind me directed towards me so I turned around and said "what?" yada, yada, yada he pulled out a pocket knife opened it dropped it to his side and advanced towards me. Years of rage about not being able to let my children play outside of our house, ever (last week a nine year old who was petting our new puppy punched my three year old in the face because she wanted to pet her as well) surged and took me to a level of rage I've never experienced. So as he stepped up to the curb towards me I sprung at him. I'm 250 and people are often surprised with my swiftness, I've lost seventy lbs and was surprised myself this time moving faster than I had in years towards him filled with fury. I stunned him with my rush reached around the side and back of his head with my left arm choking him while I grabbed his wrist and bent it behind his back. I let go of his neck and reached over putting the knife forearm into a key lock stepped back applied pressure and yada yada the pavement was his enemy. Then the fifteen people rushed me I got kicked three times by some large boot in the eye, back of the head, and behind one ear. But I never let go of the knife wrist and now it was time to fire and maneuver so I smashed his hand into the street he dropped the knife and I swept it away J.T. Kirk style. Then I introduced his head to W Cedar St as forcefully as I could while at the same time fortuitously the other tenant and a friend came out and helped clear some people as I moved to a less populated area in my driveway. Annie De came out hearing the commotion and I told her to call nine one one and as she did so I grabbed my Fubar to go finish the job. Annie thought better and told me Tyler Durdin style to put it down so I did. My level of fury had over come my rationale and if my Sweet hadn't been there... The police actually got here quite quickly for the numerous times I call every week from the guy across the street peeing in front of my kids, the fight across the street, the fight across the street I was in both resulted in felony arrests because both had warrants. These people JUST MOVED IN AND WHO THE HELL ARE THESE PEOPLE INVITING TO HANG AROUND???!!! So once they were on scene I slowly burbled down and noticed I'd been sliced across two knuckles on one hand and one knuckle on the other as well as two cuts on one leg. They could all use a stitch or two in my estimation, plus I'm pretty sure I have a concussion along with my barely noticeable severe neck pain. Last year there was a stabbing in front of that house and a murder down the street. This year the guy not taking his meds has walked into multiple homes, urinated in front of my kids, starred at my wife and stood rocking in our driveway scarring her, preventing her from coming home because she's afraid finally got arrested for masturbating on a neighbors porch! He was on the street again by our house in two days. The dog fighting/training whatever it is that I put flyers up with a friend about the neighborhood being on to them. Someone was seen following the flyers going up and taking them down and it has caused a large amount of excess stress for Sweetums and myself for just about the entire summer. Oh! Oh! I can't forget the house that was dealing pills for ages finally got cleared up and was promptly filled with people the entire street knew were making meth. That house was just condemned on my street. Hooray I guess? My kids can't go barefoot anywhere because there is glass all over the sidewalks everywhere and there is so much dog shit in every yard you can't not stop in it. Also I've found two heroin needles in the grass around our house. One in the new community garden down the street. A year ago I'd organized a playgroup with lots of kids both Felix and Eliza's age which is very hard for us to do. It's usually Felix's friends or Eliza's not both. During the play date I found a heroin needle in the grass and called the police to come and get it. No one came back. I love living in the city and Vine is getting better and better every day and headed our way one day but my kids and my wife aren't safe now and I don't know what will happen the next time they're threatened. Annie thinks Eliza saw me be caused she was huddled back in a corner inside the door as far back as she could get. And this is after last nights trauma Jose that kept her up till one am. I just don't know if I can go on waiting for this neighborhood to be what it's going to be and forgo my families safety. I think I have a concussion but it was good to see everyone. The class of 89's women are stunning and even Xxxxx Xxxxx’x company was pleasant. Even before the attack though, my anger was strong and quick to rise, so much so I got the Orange Rhino (http://theorangerhino.com) tattooed on my hand as a reminder not to yell. Now however, I am volcanic. Sometimes out of nowhere. So much so that I got a tattoo of the Red Lantern Corps symbol on my chest. Its rings fueled by the power of rage. I’ve ALWAYS been angry. All my life. https://youtu.be/ZwfBMppWVYc I’ve come to the conclusion I want to explore where the anger comes from starting with my circumcision as an infant in my first days on earth. I’m a little scared of where I’m going, and what may come out to be honest. “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”