Monday, December 24, 2018

Christmas Eve Caring

For me, today was filled with Christmas Spirit. After finishing up some chores at home, I set out on a few last minute errands. I have a cold but needed to get out for a little while.

First, cookies from TAG's bakery in Evanston for several get-togethers in the next few days and one after the January 1st.

Next, a stop to give out a few presents and while there, to sample some homemade stew.

Then, a visit to Whole Foods for tonight's dinner from the "hot table," a few groceries, a mini bunch of flowers for Gregory's shrine, cranberry walnut bread for tomorrow morning's breakfast, and chestnuts to roast on an open fire (so the song says but in a condo toasting, steaming, or microwaving is just as good.)

Finally, Walgreens to stock up on candy canes and chocolate covered cherries.

On the way home, driving down Green Bay Road, as I am pulling away from being stopped at a red light, I notice that there is a person on the sidewalk leaning against the wall under the viaduct at Simpson and Green Bay.

As I begin to pull away my "voices" asked me, "How can you just ignore that?"

"Maybe I can go around the block, but what can I really do if the person is in distress?" I answer. "Do I really want to get involved?" "Yes," I answer myself to my voices. So I pull over and carefully compose what I am going to say as I dial Emergency 911.

"Evanston 911. Where is the emergency?" comes the initial response.

"A person is down on the sidewalk, under the viaduct at Simpson and Green Bay. I cannot tell if they are in trouble or drunk."

"We will send someone out right away to see what we can do."

"Thank you for being there and Merry Christmas,"  I say as I end the call.

I felt good about my quick turn around from "I don't want and/or am afraid to get involved" to doing something creative to help. Lesson learned is that you don't have to be afraid that you cannot help, but at least if you do something, there will always be others to help you help.

2 comments:

  1. Yep. I believe you can't go wrong when you do what you know to be the right thing.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Susan. Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete

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