Sometimes you just have to smile....

[Rjel]

I was on my way home this afternoon, the start of the Memorial Day weekend. It was 5 o'clock and traffic was heavy in my hometown. Not a big town but still a lot of traffic flows through it this time of day. As I pulled up to the stop sign to turn right, I looked to my left to see if traffic was clear. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a little girl who was maybe 10, certainly no older than that, holding a small plastic shopping bag waiting to cross the street from my left side. Being a father and now a grandfather, I always keep my eyes peeled for little ones while driving. I suspect most of us do. Something about this girl standing there just clicked in my mind.

 

There isn't a signal at this intersection so there aren't any crosswalk signs either. I watched this little girl, who had obviously been taught well about crossing streets by her parents I'd suppose. She was looking in both directions, waiting for a chance to cross. There were cars turning off the main road from both directions on to the side street I was trying to exit. Beside me were a couple of cars waiting on a chance to turn left on to the main road. It's always been a bad corner so I just kept watching the little girl, silently telling her to please stay on the curb. It all had the makings of a tragedy.

 

I watched the little girl who now looked like she was just trying her best to judge if she had time to cross. Then it happened. A car stopped its turn from the main road at the corner beside the little girl and waited. I quickly looked at the cars lined up waiting to turn left coming from the opposite direction of the stopped car. There were four or five cars lined up there. The driver in the lead car waved at the little girl to cross. The people beside me held their place as did I. The girl was hesitant and kept looking at the car that was beside her. Finally the driver motioned again to cross. She did one more quick look in all directions and ran across the street safely to the other side. By the time I was able to make my turn she was lost from sight. At least she was on her way home. Safe and sound.

 

I'm not sure if anyone else felt it, but it was one of those little moments in life I wish I could hold on to for a little while. Maybe it was more instinctive rather than a conscience act by the people in those automobiles, but it sure seemed like a group of adults acted together to protect a little girl I'm sure none of us knew and likely will never see again. I doubt it meant anything to that little and she probably won't remember it happened tomorrow. But maybe someday when she is grown, she'll see another little kid in a similar situation and something will click in the back of her mind to remind her somehow. I'd like to think that she'll make sure that little kid will get across the street safely. Watching this little personal drama sure did make the end of my day seem a little more hopeful. There is still a lot of good out there in people. We just have to look for it.

[Bando]

 

Made me smile indeed.

 

Thx

[Mastermariner]

 

Yes it does happen, but never here in Thailand. When I was new driver here I stopped for pedestrian at a zebra crossing once. I almost ended in catastrophe. No one was prepared for such a shocking manoeuvre.

[johncage]

you must have seen some shit in your life to be moved like that by ordinary human behavior.

 

hats off to you.

[Finkeren]

you must have seen some shit in your life to be moved like that by ordinary human behavior.

 

hats off to you.

 

That strikes me as well. It's a sweet story, but I don't really see anything special about it. Who in their right mind would've acted differently?

 

Personally, if I had been in that front car, I'd have gone out and led the little girl across the street, so she didn't have to stand there and feel insecure.

 

Maybe it's a cultural thing. I've often been told by foreigners, that Scandinavians are way too naive and feel way too secure. I spent some time with an American couple who were absolutely horrified, that I would leave my 6 months old daughter out on the street in her pram for her nap time in the middle of winter (temperatures were hardly even below zero) while I sat on a café having a beer. They honestly thought that she'd be either kidnapped or freeze to death. I don't understand how people can be so tense about everything and not just relax and trust that other people wanna be good guys just as much as yourself.

Edited May 29, 2015 by Finkeren

[Chuck_Owl]

That strikes me as well. It's a sweet story, but I don't really see anything special about it. Who in their right mind would've acted differently?

 

Personally, if I had been in that front car, I'd have gone out and led the little girl across the street, so she didn't have to stand there and feel insecure.

 

Maybe it's a cultural thing. I've often been told by foreigners, that Scandinavians are way too naive and feel way too secure. I spent some time with an American couple who were absolutely horrified, that I would leave my 6 months old daughter out on the street in her pram for her nap time in the middle of winter (temperatures were hardly even below zero) while I sat on a café having a beer. They honestly thought that she'd be either kidnapped or freeze to death. I don't understand how people can be so tense about everything and not just relax and trust that other people wanna be good guys just as much as yourself.

 

When I walk through the streets of Montreal, some parts of the town I know I can safely cross a street... but at other places Downtown, it's a real bull run. Same thing when I drive in MTL: I put my war face on the second I cross the Jacques Cartier bridge: people there drive like maniacs... or at least much more agressively. When I drive out of town on the South Shore (where I grew up), drivers are generally much less agressive in the way they drive.

 

Not only is that a cultural thing but it's also a regional thing.

Edited May 29, 2015 by 71st_AH_Chuck

[Rjel]

you must have seen some shit in your life to be moved like that by ordinary human behavior.

 

hats off to you.

Not so much I have to be vulgar about it but thanks for the comment.

 

That strikes me as well. It's a sweet story, but I don't really see anything special about it.

 

It was special to me and frankly if it isn't to you, that's ok. Based on your comments, we're two very different people.