One night in Kansas City, I’d made a trip to a restaurant on the way back home to pick up dinner. I parked in the parking lot and walked in to get my order. As I returned to my car with my acquired meal I got into my drivers seat.
As I was getting in and as I reach to put on my seat belt, I experienced an odd event occuing in the corner of my eye. I observed what felt like my car rolling forward.
I slam on the breaks to discover I wasn’t rolling forward. I didn’t even have the car engine on yet. It was the car next to me.
It was rolling backwards into traffic.
Even though I didn’t know what was happening, I kind of observed what happened as it happend. The driver of this car had gotten out with the car in neutral, shut the door, and walked off without giving the car one notice.
Other than me, the only other person who noticed what was happening was the elder lady in the passenger’s seat. She realized as quickly as I did what was happening. I could see the panic on her face in that moment. She yells in a faint voice that no one can hear from outside the shut car.
The car being on a gradual slope is increasing in speed as its aims for the busy street behind it.
I realized in an instant I had to do something. I jump out of my car hollering at the driver as she walks off to the front of the store. She’s either ignoring me or more oblivious than I’d thought.
I start running around to the driver’s door as my only option to help was to get into this random moving car and try to stop it. The driver still has no idea. I make eye contact with the older passenger who mouths one word, “Help”.
Opening the door, the elder lady in a very thick un-identifiable accent says over and over “thank you” while starting to sob and shake with fear. I get into this car unfamiliar with any of its layout, apply the breaks, and dive it back into its slot.
The driver walks back asking what the hell is going on with a look of suspicion and annoyance. After observing me getting out of her parked car. I explain the situation, car being left in neutral to roll into traffic. All without calling her an idiot. It would sound as bizarre to hear myself explain as it was to experience.
I didn’t argue or discuss. I just left figuring her older passenger would update her on the account of her own ignorance.
I left that situation really confused, annoyed, and without much closure other than the reassurance the escalation of tragedy was avoided.
In life a lot of people will miss your intention and desire. They’ll pay attention the moment your done with the hard parts. Then find someway to hold you to their precived understanding of your actions.
They won’t always be right of how they see you, but ultimately the thing that matters is how you showed up and did the things that mattered. This is what makes the most difference in the world.
