This short article really blew me away... what does it say about people who are hurting in our society? And the power of kindness and understanding?

BTW, this is a real article, it just came out today, 7/13/07. (I never pass on urban myths)

Would-Be Robber Stays for Wine, Hugs
By Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Police on Capitol Hill are baffled by an attempted robbery that began with a handgun put to the head of a 14-year-old girl and ended in a group hug.

It started around midnight on June 16 when a group of friends was finishing dinner on the patio of a District of Columbia home, authorities and witnesses said. That's when a hooded man slid through an open gate and pointed a handgun at the girl's head.

"Give me your money, or I'll start shooting," he said, the witnesses told The Washington Post.

Everyone froze, they said, but then one guest spoke up.

"We were just finishing dinner," Cristina Rowan, 43, told the man. "Why don't you have a glass of wine with us?"

The intruder had a sip of their Chateau Malescot St-Exupery and said, "Damn, that's good wine."

The girl's father, Michael Rabdau, 51, told him to take the whole glass, and Rowan offered him the bottle. The would-be robber, with his hood down, took another sip and a bite of Camembert cheese and put the gun in his sweatpants.

Then the story got even more bizarre.

The man with the gun apologized, the witnesses told the Post.

"I think I may have come to the wrong house," he said. "Can I get a hug?"

Rowan stood up and wrapped her arms around the man and the four other guests followed.

The man walked away a few moments later with the crystal wine glass in hand. No one was hurt, but once he was gone, the group went inside, locked the door and called 911.

Police said Friday that the case was strange but true. Investigators have not located a suspect.

"We've had robbers that apologize and stuff, but nothing where they sit down and drink wine," Cmdr. Diane Groomes said. "The only good thing is they would be able to identify him because they hugged them."

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I want to meet Cristina Rowan. What an amazing woman.

xxxooo
Beverly ;-*

It wasn't the wine, it wasn't the cheese, it wasn't the crystal. It was all about having the courage to try to put things in a different light, IMO.

xxxooo
Beverly ;-*

Now, if it was a Spotted Cow to go with that good Wisconsin cheese...

-- Modified on 7/13/2007 2:17:06 PM

She's not even from Wisconsin, but I wish she was...

-- Modified on 7/13/2007 2:26:41 PM

-- Modified on 7/13/2007 2:27:52 PM

see I now I know why i love fine wines. They have many benefits .
-Layla

That was quick thinking on Cristina's part. Totally took the guy off his game plan.

They say the typical robbery like that is usually done out of desperation by people who are probably more scared then the victims. But the perp has a weapon giving him what he hopes will be an advantage over un-armed, scared shitless victims.

The wine was Cristina's equalizer and that's all it took to completely blow his probably not very well thought out plan...it's a good thing he wasn't a pro.