How to Survive Life in the Suburbs

I’m Still Shaking

in Everyday on

escalator1I was just about to leave the mall.  Scooting to a back entrance that not many seem to use.  (Love that entrance because it is not very busy back there.)  As I walked by the escalator I glanced up and saw a gray faced lady sitting on the steps as they descended.  Huh?  This isn’t normal.  I hesitated for a moment, took a step back and yelled up.  Are you okay?  She shook her head adamantly.  NO.

I dropped my bags and ran to the bottom of the escalator.  Met her there just in time.  Simultaneously, I began to politely request help from the people who were just walking by.  Walking by?  Screw polite!  HELLO!!! WE NEED HELP.  I began to yell. That got me some attention.

Two old birdies came rushing over to help us.

Between the three “rescuers’” we got the sweet gray faced lady sitting at the bottom of the stairs.  Managed to have her placed so she was not getting sucked in or pushed off those incredibly steep stairs.  This was thanks to some fancy manoeuvring and the quick thinking of someone who hit the emergency stop button. This someone was not me.  *Note to self.  In case of emergency, lift up glass at the end of the escalator,  hit the STOP button. 

Suddenly all those old First Aid skills kicked back in.  I don’t know where they were hiding, but they were not forgotten.  Can you breath?  Can you speak.  Someone needs to get emergency services.  You in the brown sweater.  Get emergency services.  I was a freakin drill sergeant, but remained calm.  Two of us stayed with our victim, rubbed her hands, kept her as calm as possible until help arrived.  To the credit of the Mall, it did not take long.  We were then unceremoniously dismissed.  Gray faced lady perked up a bit, thanked us.  I went on my way. 

As I strode out to my car, that is when my hands started to shake.  What if I hadn’t seen her slumped down on the escalator.  What if that had been my Mom?  What if that had been me?  Why didn’t more people stop to lend a hand?  There was no gory blood, no bad guy, just a sweet senior citizen in need of a little help.

I’m proud to be able to say I did the right thing.  I’m mortified to admit I did it all in SassyModernMom style.  Between tossing my purchases to the side and pulling the sweet little old late from the jaws of death squeaky steps of the escalator to the Mall floor I am pretty sure my low rise pants were flashing a bit of butt crack.  Classy.

Today, I am shamed by the number of citizens in this world who walked by and did not offer a hand, and so thankful for the kindness of strangers.  Today I am glad I could pay it forward.

Tell me. What do you think you would have done, and why aren’t more people willing to get involved?

 

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    • Comments

    1. I won’t lie…I’d probably look at her for a bit shocked. Not on purpose. My reaction time is weak.
      However, once I kicked back up and going I’d definitely help out. Americans these days are lazy. It seems like they’re scared.

    4. Thank you! Thank you for being the kind stranger who did stop and help. There are so many out there that won’t. I have taught my children always to help people…no.matter.what! If there is blood involved grab something anything to keep it getting on you but HELP that person. If they aren’t breathing scream for help until someone pays attention to your yells. If you see someone struggling carrying their groceries, stop and help them. If you see someone in a wheelchair struggling to get in a door, you stop and help them. If you know someone is behind you, you hold the door for them. If you see someone who is sad looking….you give them a smile and say hello. Always help others because it may be the others that may help you one day.
      Karma baby…I believe in it.

    6. You did the right thing. It always amazes me how many people just don’t stop to help. I hope she ended up ok. Am proud of you! 🙂

    10. Good for you! That was a really honorable thing you did for that lady. I am sure she greatly appreciated you helping her.

      Have you seen that Primetime tv show, “What would you do?” Where they set up situations like that (where people are hurt, or someone is taking advantage of them or humiliating them, etc.) to see if anyone will step in and help..

      Wouldn’t it have been awesome if John Quiñones (host) had come out with his big camera crew to tell you how awesome you were… Then he would have asked you why you stopped to help when everyone else just went on by… That would have been great! LOL…

    12. Honesty…I don’t know. There are moments in my life when I would step in without thinking about it, and others when I get lost in the world inside my own head. I like to think when someone needs something I am alert and available, but it may take someone screaming ‘yo, a little help’ to pull me out of myself.

      Good job for being there and doing it in SassyModernMom style!!!!

    13. Yay! Good for you. That’s awesome! I would have helped too. I think sometimes people are just oblivious and sometimes people are, unfortunately, just selfish, maybe sometimes afraid.

    14. People today depress me to no end – for the most part. Apparently there is no compassion for one’s fellow man anymore – it’s all about “me, me, me” Bless you for stepping up and doing what needed to be done!