The most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen from my car was an act of social kindness.
A few years ago, I was driving through downtown at 3 p.m. While I was waiting for the light to change, a young woman—clearly under the influence of something other than alcohol—staggered out of an alley, took off her shirt, and began dancing around a lamppost.
There was a police officer two cars behind me. He turned on his flashing lights and got out of the car to “deal with” this person who was clearly in distress. Before he got there, a shop owner came out with a blanket. He coaxed the woman from the pole, wrapped her in a blanket and took her out of public view. He is quiet, kind and very gentle with her.
I jumped out of the car to see if I could help – and possibly stop the police. We go into the store. The owner called our city’s Social Diversion team and we waited for them to show up. He gave the woman juice and food, and locked the store door so no one would bother her.
When the Social Diversion team showed up, two amazing ladies gave the victim a hoodie, escorted her to the back of the store so she could change in private, then walked her out the door. Next, come the resources that can help.
The policeman is very angry because we locked the front door before he arrived. He wanted to arrest her for disturbing public order. Damn that guy.
The shop owner’s quick thinking and compassion for his fellow human beings was the best thing I’ve ever seen come out of my car.
