As St. Andrew's friends and our Highland Park neighborhood may have heard, this past Saturday night my brother-in-law (visiting for Christmas from Massachusetts) and I were assaulted and robbed as we walked home down North Euclid from the church after the Pittsburgh Camerata concert last Saturday evening. We were just below Wellesley when we were suddenly and very roughly tackled from behind by two young men--late teens or early twenties, wearing hooded sweatshirts or parkas--beaten-up pretty viciously, both with fists and kicks, and with the verbal threat of a knife, which we never saw--and then with the two assailants sprinting down Paca Alley toward N. St. Clair Street with my phone and wallet (including, sigh, credit cards, driver's license, pictures of the kids, etc.) and my brother-in-law's cash and keys. Both of us had our glasses smashed and were battered, bloodied, and bruised. Mike also took several blows directly to the face and eventually needed more medical attention. So a bad deal. It probably took all of 60 seconds from initial tackle to completion--but, well, it seemed longer at the time. Fortunately we are both in pretty good shape and didn't suffer any more serious injury--as we may have if we had been older or with any other health/medical problems. This was pretty rough and pretty intense. A couple of comments. For Commander Brackney, I just want to say that the Zone 5 group, especially Officer Strachan, who responded very quickly when we got to 911, and who scoured then neighborhood looking for these bad guys, and for the medic team, were all great. Better than great. Courteous and compassionate and very patient with a couple of very shaken-up victims. Thanks to them all. And our neighbors and friends in the parish and up and down the block have been so very kind and supportive. Our next door neighbors Rick and Mary were outside within a couple of minutes to express their concern and friendship. We've had cookies and nice notes, calls, e-mails--all with much encouragement. There is no question in my mind but that this is the best neighborhood in the city--certainly the neighborhood with the best people. I've had also some reflections about the incident itself. I don't know if there's much to do about the actual event. These two guys were probably just cruising, looking for "something." Maybe a car to steal, or a passer-by to roll, etc., but without a particular plan in mind. We just happened down the block at the unfortunate, intersecting moment--and if it hadn't been us it probably would have been someone else or something else. But once the attack started I think I at least didn't react too wisely. I haven't been in any kind of physical altercation since about the 8th grade, and most of my adult athletic activities have been in the long-distance running, stairmaster climbing category, but for some reason I decided on the spot to get in touch with my inner Sly Stallone--to put up some resistance to this attack, hitting back at first, then yelling and trying to get away--maybe for 15-20 seconds, anyway. If he'd had a gun he probably would have shot me--and perhaps if I'd been more compliant after the initial tackle I wouldn't have gotten so beat-up. Who knows? Mike didn't resist, and he got slammed all the same. It's certainly difficult to second-guess, and there actually wasn't much "thinking" going on in the moment. Just gut reactions. But I think I'd want to do it differently if it happened again. Also, a good idea on reflection, my brother-in-law was able to give his cash to "his" assailant separately from the rest of his wallet--thus managing not to lose credit cards and other personal items. I'm in the future going to think pretty seriously about what I carry and how I carry it. But again, with thanks to all for kind thoughts, prayers, and best wishes. It was a scary deal, but the swelling is going down, and we're getting better. Christmas and Hanukkah coincide this year, which seems a special blessing, the Steelers still have a shot at the playoffs, and the sun is shining on this lovely Monday morning as I sit at the computer drinking a home-brewed cup of Amy's Highland Park blend. It's good to be here. Bruce Robison Rector, St. Andrew's Church