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Snake Bit

I don't know where it comes from but there's an expression I've heard in the south, "snake bit." It means something like bad luck. If you're snake bit, you're a person to whom bad things are continually happening.

I am not snake bit. I have the distinct pleasure of being a person to whom very, very few bad things ever happen. Sure, I have minor set backs here and there, but by and large my life really is charmed.

I have a new friend here in New York who is snake bit, though.

First, a crazy person came into his building, mugged him and his boyfriend while threatening them with a box cutter. He was chased by his would-be killer and he fell down some stairs and broke his leg very badly.

The mugger got into his building because the lobby door was not locked or monitored. My friend filed suit against the owner of the building for negligence and, last week, the court found the owner guilty, but 0% financially liable. I have no idea what twists of logic brought them to that conclusion, but there it is.

The actual mugging took place eight years ago but my friend had to undergo several painful surgeries to recover and accrued massive hospital bills and legal fees in the process. It also cost him his relationship.

And then on Friday, my friend was attacked by someone else who broke his jaw.

He's a new friend, so I don't know all the ins and outs of his life, but just these few things lead me to say that he's snake bit.

It's just a horrible string of events and my heart goes out to him.