I returned home from an especially frustrating 7-Mile shopping experience this afternoon, and as I was pulling into mu driveway I noticed an older lady had parked her car in the middle of the street and was on her cell phone having a conversation. This, unfortunately, was not strange. We have a mail box at the corner of our street and people regularly pull over in unsafe and incomprehensible ways. It's frustrating to watch and I always feel like going over to the people and telling them off. This never happens because I either check myself and conclude that it is not worth it (this is Baltimore, after all, and people get shot here for much less) or because the people move on too quickly for me to get over there.
But this time was different. The woman moved like she was going to get into her car but then she continued to wander in a circle around her vehicle, all the while engaged in an in-depth conversation on her phone.
So I concluded that she wasn't going to rush off. And because she was an older woman, I figured that I could take her and that I did not have to fear for my safety.
But don't get me wrong I was going to give this woman a piece of my mind.
As I approached her I gave her "the stare" and asked in my most cynical and condescending voice, "Is something wrong?"
Innocently she answered, "Yes. My car just stopped working."
Now I don't know much about cars, but I felt that it was a little strange that her car just stopped working. I know that it can happen, but when weighing the option of "mechanical failure" with that of "elderly woman", I felt pretty safe where I would place my bet.
I was a bit more sympathetic, though, when I asked her if she wouldn't mind me taking a look inside. I got in the driver's side and immediately noticed that the car was in neutral. I quickly diagnosed this as a problem, put the car in park and turned the ignition. Sure enough, the car started (stupid old lady).
I explained to her that she probably hit the gear shift into neutral when she was turning the corner and that was why her car stopped driving.
She looked skeptical but felt reassured and got into her car. I went back toward the house to unload my groceries but kept an eye on her to make sure she could drive away (like when people make sure that the person they just dropped off makes it into the house safely - even though the person has a key).
But instead of just driving off, she pulled her car over to the side of the road and just waited. I assumed that she had probably spoken with a friend and they had planned to meet before I had come to save the day, so she was just waiting for said friend to arrive. But I felt kind of bad and decided to take a cup of water out to her (it's like 100 degrees outside today).
And when I got to the car and gave her the water, she told me that the car had just stopped working again.
Needless to say, this expert mechanic was perplexed.
I again go into the passenger side of the car and tried to start the car. But, unlike my previous success, the car would not start. It gave a couple of whirs before nothing, and then the clock reset and I knew there was something wrong with the battery.
I once again diagnosed the problem for her and asked if she had AAA or any roadside assistance plan. She did not. But she did confirm that she had called Marilyn already and that Marilyn was on her way. Which was good, because I don't know how to jump start a car and I didn't want to use my AAA before winter (when I usually need it).
But I did invite the woman into my house and she accepted. And she was very grateful for the AC and another glass of water. And then I learned that her name was Alice.
Alice only drives her car to shopping and church. She is 89 years old and has 6 great-grandchildren. I spoke with her son on the phone and explained the car issued to him and reassured him that his mother was safe and taken care of. When Marilyn arrived she was relieved that Alice was not just standing outside in the hot sun. She had flagged down the police car to have him help track down Alice, and he pulled up just as the reunion was happening. He also gave his thanks, and even though I recognized him as the cop that gave me a ticket two years ago for speeding on Lightfoot, I felt that this was a prime example of police and community working together.
In the end I drew my own lessons from the story (not "Benefit of the Doubt"), but I mostly took away the feeling of satisfaction in knowing that my nosiness and frustration with stupid actions can be a positive attribute.
I don't need to change, you do.
But this time was different. The woman moved like she was going to get into her car but then she continued to wander in a circle around her vehicle, all the while engaged in an in-depth conversation on her phone.
So I concluded that she wasn't going to rush off. And because she was an older woman, I figured that I could take her and that I did not have to fear for my safety.
But don't get me wrong I was going to give this woman a piece of my mind.
As I approached her I gave her "the stare" and asked in my most cynical and condescending voice, "Is something wrong?"
Innocently she answered, "Yes. My car just stopped working."
Now I don't know much about cars, but I felt that it was a little strange that her car just stopped working. I know that it can happen, but when weighing the option of "mechanical failure" with that of "elderly woman", I felt pretty safe where I would place my bet.
I was a bit more sympathetic, though, when I asked her if she wouldn't mind me taking a look inside. I got in the driver's side and immediately noticed that the car was in neutral. I quickly diagnosed this as a problem, put the car in park and turned the ignition. Sure enough, the car started (stupid old lady).
I explained to her that she probably hit the gear shift into neutral when she was turning the corner and that was why her car stopped driving.
She looked skeptical but felt reassured and got into her car. I went back toward the house to unload my groceries but kept an eye on her to make sure she could drive away (like when people make sure that the person they just dropped off makes it into the house safely - even though the person has a key).
But instead of just driving off, she pulled her car over to the side of the road and just waited. I assumed that she had probably spoken with a friend and they had planned to meet before I had come to save the day, so she was just waiting for said friend to arrive. But I felt kind of bad and decided to take a cup of water out to her (it's like 100 degrees outside today).
And when I got to the car and gave her the water, she told me that the car had just stopped working again.
Needless to say, this expert mechanic was perplexed.
I again go into the passenger side of the car and tried to start the car. But, unlike my previous success, the car would not start. It gave a couple of whirs before nothing, and then the clock reset and I knew there was something wrong with the battery.
I once again diagnosed the problem for her and asked if she had AAA or any roadside assistance plan. She did not. But she did confirm that she had called Marilyn already and that Marilyn was on her way. Which was good, because I don't know how to jump start a car and I didn't want to use my AAA before winter (when I usually need it).
But I did invite the woman into my house and she accepted. And she was very grateful for the AC and another glass of water. And then I learned that her name was Alice.
Alice only drives her car to shopping and church. She is 89 years old and has 6 great-grandchildren. I spoke with her son on the phone and explained the car issued to him and reassured him that his mother was safe and taken care of. When Marilyn arrived she was relieved that Alice was not just standing outside in the hot sun. She had flagged down the police car to have him help track down Alice, and he pulled up just as the reunion was happening. He also gave his thanks, and even though I recognized him as the cop that gave me a ticket two years ago for speeding on Lightfoot, I felt that this was a prime example of police and community working together.
In the end I drew my own lessons from the story (not "Benefit of the Doubt"), but I mostly took away the feeling of satisfaction in knowing that my nosiness and frustration with stupid actions can be a positive attribute.
I don't need to change, you do.
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What goes around comes around.