HOW WOULD YOU REACT?
Posted by Robin Easton
At 7:30 this morning I went for a five mile impromptu walk along a country road, about fifteen minutes outside Santa Fe. I slung my digital camera around my neck and headed off. To get to the dirt track that would take me away from the main road I had to walk about a mile along a tarred road that passed a school. I was just passing the school entrance where eight cars where waiting to turn in and drop off their kids. Now, I’m one of those people who rarely pokes along. I tend to stride everywhere I go, and if it’s in the country or on a remote hiking trail I feel SO happy that I usually stride along with a huge foolish grin perpetually plastered across my face. All the while my head turns every which way trying to take in everything at once, like a little bird on a branch.
Well, that was my down fall today…literally. The toe of my sneaker hit a rock sticking out of the ground and BAM!!, down I went. I clutched my camera to my chest and put out my other hand to break my fall. Thank God I wore gloves. I remembered to roll when I fell, but my kneecaps still ground into gravel with searing pain. I crawled about a foot cursing and moaning, finally pushed myself upright with my hands, slowly unbent my knees and stood to check for bloody torn pants and damaged camera. A bit of blood, a little wincing pain, but otherwise all was intact. I could feel the cars next to me, still there, still waiting to turn into the school. Normally my first thought might be, “Oh God, are they looking at me? Did anyone see me?” “Did I lose my cool?” : ) But I also like to face embarrassment or fear head on, so I casually looked down the entire line of cars with the intent to smile and wave or possibly take a bow. BUT all heads were turned away from me…and I mean ALL heads. Needless to say I didn’t bow. I vaguely thought, “That’s odd; eight cars and NO ONE saw me fall??” I wondered if all heads had quickly turned in unison the moment I stood and looked at them. Can you picture it? (I forgot to tell you that I had on a ridiculous florescent-pink baseball cap that people back in Santa Fe could still see.)
About half a mile farther down the road I thought, “Ooooh I get it (light bulb over my head), they probably felt embarrassed for me. OR they didn’t want to embarrass me by letting me know they HAD seen me fall. I mean this was no lady-like glitch in my stride. This was out-and-out buns upside down and butter on the floor. About a mile down the road I turned onto the dirt track and thought, “What is it about human nature that they couldn’t look at me? Fifteen feet away, and no one saw a head in a glow-in-the-dark cap bouncing around on the side of the road?” That made me curious, fascinated and intrigued by human nature. Two miles further down the track, I was amazed that no one had rolled down there window and asked if I was okay. (You have to realize that these thoughts came to me slowly because I am a passionate photographer and was clicking away as I limped along. I also was probably in some form of “drastic shock” that would take another five miles to realize.)
How would you have reacted to my downfall??
The early-morning tripper,
Robin : )
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This Site: © Robin Easton
Website: http://www.nakedineden.com
Blog: http://nakedineden.com/nakedinedenblog/
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7 Comments so far...
Makinart Says:
13 March 2008 at 8:05 pm.
Eikes! These are mothers or fathers, or carpoolers who did not notice. Perhaps they were so involved with themselves and tuning out the kids, they really did not notice. However there were at least 2 cars that would have noticed and they did not respond. That is very sad, especially in a town like Santa Fe. 1) You could have had a seizure. 2) You could have broken a bone. 3)You could have been having a heart attack. Someone should have asked.
When I fell last fall in the Main Post Office Downtown, the postal worker was oblivious until I let out a big groan. It did happen fast and I managed not to hit my sore knee, and I did a roll but also did more damage than I realized. No one else said a thing. And after a thorough “body scan”, I said I thought I was all right. The postal worker was ready though to do anything I asked.
I think this story should be forwarded to the school admin and to the parents: as an object/moral lesson to be discussed. Mary MacIntyre
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Robin Easton Says:
14 March 2008 at 7:20 am.
Well everyone, thanks for asking how my knees are doing today…all pain is gone and they are in good form. Oddly enough the fact that I kept hiking stopped them from stiffening up. Also re: Mary’s comment about mother’s and father’s with kids, etc., it hit me last night that often parents are so busy just keeping their kids from bickering and wrestling in the car, making sure they have their books, lunches and track shoes that they could easily be focused on keeping things in oder. I also remembered later that night that at least 1 of those cars had black tinted windows so I couldn’t tell what they were doing. And the fact that I got up so quickly they may have figured I was fine. And luckily I am. Life never ceases to intrigue me…I love it!!!
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sctshep Says:
14 March 2008 at 8:52 am.
I’m pretty sure I would have asked how you were, especially since it was a pretty spectacular trip (it sounds like.) Now if you had just stayed on the ground moaning I probably would have pretended to not notice (just kidding) .
Now to another matter. I’m so glad you joined my neighborhood. You seem to be a very alive person and that is one of the coolest things about the web – meeting people like you that I never would have. Thanks for adding a touch of life to my life. Oh and by the way if you want to see a cool song I wrote that I think fits into your whole personality (sung by my daughter who is graduating from Cincinnati Conservatory of Music) go to my website http://www.mystresscoach.com and click on multimedia and then click on Celebrate Another Day. I love that song, if I do say so myself. When I start to lose my edge I go to it. Now I have to go comment on your last post (QUESTIONS: What do you think?). Interesting questions. As they said in Casablanca “This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” Best to you.
ROBIN RESPONDS: I went to the above link: (www.mystresscoach.com — clicked multimedia, then clicked “Celebrate Another Day”) and listened to sctshep’s song. If you are feeling down or blah or just uninspired you will go away with a smile on your face and a more vigourous outlook on life. I went away with a grin on my face and a “YES!!!” feeling. : )
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leonoralives Says:
14 March 2008 at 1:35 pm.
Dearest Robin, This elicits in me any number of responses. I will try to braid them. I would like to think that I would have lept from my car to be sure you were okay. Meets my need to quell the inner judge who would brand me viciously were I to do anything less. Still in this very moment, I am stunned by how often we are “trying to do the right thing” when I’m not sure — given all our programming — that we have access to that knowledge in a free and clear way. I think at this stage of evolution, the best thing we can do is what we do do. And to that I would say: were I in that line of cars with children in my car and probably children within range of my moving car, I would have sat tight and held fast to what appears to be my “purpose” for being there at all…safe delivery of children to their destination. I admit, this choice is also fraught with programming too. I like very much to think that what I would actually do would be what felt most ALIVE in the moment, including all options, excluding none. In order to keep this little mind from disintegrating into chaos, I live with the mantra that things are meant to be exactly as they are. Thanks for asking us to sit with this love. Great love to you…Leonora
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Lilly Says:
15 March 2008 at 2:42 pm.
Robin thanks for stopping by my blog. Wow, what an inspiration you are. As an Aussie, thank you so much for all the work you have done here as well. What wonderful parents you must have had. I love your photography and am touched by your writing. In terms of your ‘trip’, my initial reaction would have been to go and ask if you needed help. That’s what I think I would do but I wonder. How many times do you hear about someone lying on a busy street and people go around them rather than stopping to see if they need help. I am not sure why we are so removed from other people. Is it fear? Are we frightened that we may be told to mind our own business? I think it’s sad if this is the case. I am glad you were not seriously hurt.
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sherryp Says:
15 March 2008 at 2:53 pm.
Hey, Robs… sorry to hear about your calamitous tumble but happy to hear you are OK. Thought I’d trade a story: I was coming off the train at North Station on my way into work in Boston one winter morning, maybe 4-5 yrs ago. I somehow managed to fall over my own feet (remember, I always was a klutz and “star faller” of our ski team) and went flat splat on the pavement immediately adjacent to the tracks. Despite initial embarrassment of being spreadeagled on the icy cement walkway, I quickly realized people were just stepping over and around me in their single-minded “gotta get to work” mentality. Upon this discovery, I started laughing at the thought of what I must look like, and trying to wonder if rolling over, getting to my knees, or just laying there until the train emptied would be the best tactic! I probably looked like some old lady seizing as I couldn’t help giggling at my situation, and about that time a nice gentleman gave me a hand and helped me up, leading me to believe that no, chivalry is not dead even if you’re not a knock-out twenty-something blond in hose and stack heels. Well, I was wearing nylons, but that’s beyond the point (you know my age, girl). I think lots of people move on and then think, gee, I should have helped, but there are definitely 1 in 10 who will react quickly to reach out… you only had 8 cars was your problem! Nice to have your blog to read and to keep up on your life. One of these days, I’m really going to come out and see you. Sherry
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thefearlessblog Says:
28 March 2008 at 8:24 pm.
Wow! I am here…I made it.
When I read this post weeks ago, I thought…I know exactly what I would do because it happened to me before. 1) If it looks like you are ok but embarassed (I would know this because you would get up “very” quickly) then I would pretend not to see you. I don’t want you to feel worse. 2) Howeer, if you do not get up quickly or look hurt, then chances are (depending on many external circumstances) I will stop and ask if you are fine.
People have risked their own lives to assist or even save complete strangers. Therefore, I really do not believe “most” people would ruthlessly turn away.
Again, so happy to be here finalllllyyyyy. 
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