Walgreens willies

I've lived in this city for nearly eight years now, long enough to know when things aren't "right" at times. Sometimes it's a really bad night in the Quarter when things seem off and and there is a static in the air that makes me feel like things could get out of hand any second. There are days on my block when it is just best to stay inside and not even open the door to see what all of the yelling is about at the other end of the street. Then there is the new Walgreens at Claiborne and South Carrollton.

The Walgreens beckons me with its shiny newness, ample parking and close location. The first few times that I forsook ye ol' Maple Street Walgreens for the new one, I went during the day and thought nothing of it. However, my last two visits were after dark and there was something terribly wrong in the air -- people were panhandling outside, I was getting blatant stares at my breasts while entering the store (they are a sight to behold but in a freakish, still breastfeeding sort of way), and once inside, I became paranoid that someone was looking over my shoulder as I typed in my PIN during checkout.

Only a few blocks from the other Walgreens, this store has an entirely different vibe. I had to remind myself that it butts up against Hollygrove and that maybe I should take more care when I go there at night but I struggled with this thought because it's so close to my house, why was I so uncomfortable?

Then I read today about a string of muggings around Palmer Park; how young men taunt construction workers, calling them "walking ATMs." I had two thoughts. The first of which had to do with vengance. The second was, "no wonder I'm uneasy over there. It is truly less safe than I am comfortable with."

By "less safe," I mean that my chance of getting mugged jumps to 70% rather than the 20% chance that I am "comfortable with."

No more shiny new Walgreens after dark. I'll stick with the Riverbend, thank you very much.