It’s hard for me to believe that I’ve been a tattoo wife for over 19 years now. When I look back, it’s almost like watching a movie. We were so stinkin’ young. I couldn’t legally drink at my own wedding; I was 20, he was 25. Since we were so young, we kind of grew up together. We had lived with our parents until we got our first place shortly before we were married.

Our first apartment was a quaint two bedroom overlooking a courtyard in an Arlington Heights complex. We found this place through some friends who were already living in the same building. How awesome was that? We wouldn’t have to drive anywhere to hang out with them! That sounded perfect us. Sadly, it didn’t take long to realize that this place was neither awesome nor perfect.

We had people ringing the door buzzer at all hours of the night. One time, there was a guy yelling, “I need a dime. I need a dime.” He had woken us up and being half asleep, I said, “Tell him to go to the Jewel across the street and get change.” Augie informed me that it wasn’t change he was looking for…….Ohhhh!!! It didn’t take us long to figure out that we may be living in the Dealer’s Penthouse Suite.

Looking back, I often wonder why we didn’t call the police. I have no answer to that; I really don’t. I wasn’t afraid. I knew Augie would take care of everything and he did. He would just tell them to go away and then we’d roll over and go back to sleep. But things changed rather quickly.

I remember it was on a Saturday because Augie was at work and I was at the apartment alone. I was going about my day when I heard this incredibly chaotic noise. All I could hear was pounding, running and shouting, all at the same time, coming from all sides. I about wet my pants. It was so loud and startling that my dog didn’t even bark. The poor little guy froze. I think he may have peed, too.

 

I peeked out the window and the courtyard was a mess with these huge armed men running around. It was startling. I immediately called Augie at work, not even thinking…..how is he going to help me when he’s all the way in South Elgin? But, I was freaking out and I needed him to calm me down. He did and from what I described to him, he figured it was a drug bust. He was right. We had actually seen the plants and growing lights the front window of the apartment above us when we moved in. A bust was bound to happen. I just didn’t expect it to be home when it happened.

That Monday, he went into the rental office the moment they opened and broke our lease. To this day, I have no idea what he told them, but whatever he said must have worked. We were out of our lease after only a few weeks of living there. But, I do have to say, it wasn’t all dealers, hopheads and raids. I did get a kick out of this older couple who would walk every day at the same time I’d walk our dog.

The husband always walked several paces ahead of her with his eyes straight ahead. It wasn’t hard to figure out that it was probably on purpose. She’d follow him, hollering. I couldn’t understand a word she said, but she said it with force. He’d take a rest on some bleachers that we’d pass and she’d sit a few rows behind him and continue to holler at the poor guy. Note to self: Never do that to Augie! Especially since he got us out of that place!