Are You Okay?

Friday, August 17, 2008

I just realized something about myself a few moments ago.  I’ve lost a fraction of my ability to be a simple human being.  I was driving home from a totally monotonous little errand.  Mabel and I were sitting down to watch a movie and I asked her if she wanted some Sweet Tarts.  It’s been a hectic week for both of us and why not, a little treat.

So I run to the market, get a few things and head home.

On the way there, in fact just about a block away from the house as I approach a stoplight I catch a glance of a figure sitting on the curb.  In that instant all I saw was a blonde person with their head cradled in their hands, a mop of curly hair over their hands.  I think it was a female.  Perhaps a teen, maybe younger…or maybe a small woman.  Maybe a young boy with long hair.

I don’t know.

Why don’t I know?  Because I didn’t stop.  I kept driving.  After all it’s not my business.  Hell, maybe it was just someone tired from a day of work.  Groggy from getting up to work the night shift.  Despondent over a crisis in their life…maybe got in trouble at school, broke up with a loved one or was simply having one of those moments when things seem a little too much to bear.

I didn’t ask.  Didn’t even roll down my window, slow down and just ask “are you okay?”.  Why?  Because what if it was a girl and I freaked them out…or if it was someone in the midst of a personal moment and I interfered.  Or someone that just wanted a moment alone.

I’ll never know.  Maybe it was nothing or maybe I could have made someone else feel like a fellow human being gave enough of a crap to ask a simple question.

To that person…sorry I didn’t ask – but others do care even if they don’t.