I actually feel much safer in my old age, being young and adopted was hard.

I must admit: I don't know what it's like to feel unsafe all the time. Is there any way for you to fix this except to have a man around?

I know what it's like to be alone all the time, to be rejected and feared all the time, but there's really nothing I can do about it.

Sad. It's been like this for a long time. I was a night owl growing up in New Jersey, even when i moved to the big city of Seattle I felt safe everywhere I went. But then in the mid 1980's the city really started to change, Reagan's policies are to blame for the start of this attack on others, including women.
At 69 I don't go out much, at least since the pandemic hit and not real interested in eating out, no real places of interest to me for dining out. Small town redneck area.
SO glad you were able to treat yourself to a nice meal that is a plus🥰! You have your fur babies and a safe roof over your head better than many but still it's not fucking right we have to fear just going for a simple walk in a nice neighborhood.

Well stated and spot-on accurate, as always.

Mr Marcello is looking good, is he still hyper as ever? Glad you had a good dinner out.

I am so sorry to hear that you feel so unsafe …I’m sure there are women here in the U.K. too who feel the same way. There was another young woman murdered in London last weekend. I feel so lucky that I have never in my entire life felt unsafe walking around anywhere, even in the evening or at night. Perhaps it’s just that I have never realised the danger, but I don’t think so. I think it must be that attacks on women have increased since the days when I would’ve been out walking around the town or city on my own. Now I’m old I rarely, if ever, walk around anywhere on my own and only go out in the evenings by car to meet up for a meal with friends. It’s really shocking that women do not feel safe to just go out and about without having to carry pepper sprays or be trained in martial arts. We are not making any progress as a species I fear…in fact quite the reverse, we are regressing.

I went out to lunch inside a restaurant the first time since the pandemic today.
It was a small place selling Vietnamese food, I had beef pho.
I chose it because it's close to the office, and it's not far to walk.
Still stuffed.

So other than that, how are you doing?

Diego has a soulful demeanor. I'm sure he would love to protect you except for being a purse pup.
Until 2 years ago I loved to walk in a park at night, because immune issues won't let me be in sunlight. Now even with pepper spray I don't feel safe. It reminds me of how when much younger, hitchhiking suddenly became dangerous to women several decades ago. I gave that up. I finally gave up walking in the park at night and now just use an elliptical and an ab lounge at home.
If I could form my own gang we would walk the park at night with 72 tons of pepper spray.

I wish that you could feel safe everywhere. I am so glad you have Marcelo and Diego who need you.

I don't know what I would do without mine for babies.

You are so cute, I'm pretty sure baggy clothes and a ball cap won't hide it.

So sad that you have to go through all these mental gymnastics and fears just to go out for a meal and walk your doggy. Even at 21:30 which is hardly witching hour. I can’t begin to understand how hard that must be. I don’t go out to eat very often, but that’s my choice, just because I’ve reached a point in my life where I really don’t like to be around people very much. Plus eating out alone just isn’t much fun. I’m glad you had a better, less stressful meal than the last time you told us about.

Wonderful to hear you got out for a nice meal, and accompanied by your sweet boy Diego! It is a real bummer we women have to be on high alert when going out anymore. I am glad though that you made it back safe to Mr. Marcello. Sending you a virtual hug!

Good to hear you are treating yourself like that, you deserve a break (much more often). Your fear expressed above is understandable, I have a solution for that in mind (wink wink), but are glad at least you have pepper spray and would use it on any jackass who attempted to take advantage of you.

That aside, hope all has been going good for you, work wise anyways. Find some more time to treat yourself a little more often.

Glad you got out for some much deserved r&r....and made it home safely.