We had our twice-annual stake conference today in the town just north, wherein five wards (congregations) come together for one really big meeting. Lots of old friends there one rarely gets to see and lots of unfamiliar faces, too.
When it was over, of course, there were a whole lot of cars leaving all at once. One woman, younger than me, dressed in a rather tight skirt and medium heels, walked past us as we waited to exit the lot. I assume she was walking home to somewhere nearby rather than adding one more car to the mess.
As we got onto the road, there was a side street right next to the lot with people exiting from that, too, a traffic jam, a light ahead we were all trying to get to, and that woman was a goodly ways up ahead. Walking never looked so sensible.
When, there in a brief patch of unpaved gravel where some work had been done, suddenly, she fell. Hard. Immediately two cars pulled to the side to rescue her, and we would have too but they beat us to it. I have no idea who she was or who they were, but a young woman was leaping out of the first car and, after a moment’s pause for taking a deep breath, was helping her carefully up. Clearly the older one was in pain, because they kept their arms around each other’s shoulders as the young one helped her to her (or possibly her parents’?) SUV. We will take care of you. We will not leave you alone.
I felt for the one who fell (and that skirt made the fall more difficult to control–there’s a reason I like mine loose-flowing and long, but then I *know* I’m going to do some falling from time to time.) But whoever you are who pulled over, I wish I could tell you, thank you. You helped all of us up.
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I have a similar story. Walking and returning from church many years ago, I had just had my cast removed. I fell and passing cars stopped to help me. It’s good to know that many years later, there still are people willing to help.
Comment by Joansie 09.12.10 @ 6:20 pmYour illumination of a kind act is always appreciated. It’s a nice image to go to sleep with.
Comment by twinsetellen 09.12.10 @ 7:21 pmSome of us can stumble and twist ankles no matter what we wear… I’m just talented like that!
Comment by Channon 09.13.10 @ 6:59 amI know about expecting to fall! As I believe we talked about recently, people are generally good and helpful. Your story a case in point.
Comment by Don Meyer 09.13.10 @ 9:33 amOur Stake Conference is coming up soon. I can’t remember if our is before or just after General Conference. sigh – a sign of getting old. I’ve definately taken my fair share of tumbles as well. I hope she is alright and that only her ego was bruised. (I’m always so embarresed when I trip :P).
Comment by LDSVenus 09.13.10 @ 6:16 pmHaving been one of the rescued (after a fire destroyed my home in Japan) I can tell you it is a foundation-shaking experience, and having a hand of a stranger to hold makes all the difference.
Comment by Diana Troldahl 09.14.10 @ 3:59 pmLeave a comment
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