Assisting the Elderly

Today, I felt like that cute kid Russell from UP. If you haven't seen this gem of a movie yet, you have GOT to see it. It is an amazing movie. Made me laugh and cry at the same time. There was a scene in this movie where Russell asks the old man if he can assist him in walking across the street, and the grumpy old man says no. Russell then insists on assisting him in crossing his front lawn, NO, then his porch, the old man again says no. Cute. It is this scene that reminded me of my situation earlier this morning but with a different twist. Here is what happened:

I was out for a run and was about to cross the street on the way home at the corner of a church when an old lady approached me and asked if I was crossing the street and when I said yes, she then asked me if she could cross it with me. She said she can't see well and that she has cataracts. I was so happy and surprised at this chance to help an elderly that I started talking to her and of course we miss the next 2 green lights because we were busy chit chatting. When we finished crossing, I decided to not continue on my run and just walk with this sweet lady and have a conversation with her. We talked about many things: my age (she said I looked 18, I told you she was a sweet lady), her age (I was spot on, I said 70, she said 71) her kids, her life, how long she has been in America, my life... I was so engaged in our conversation that I did not see when she stepped on a curb and missed and she fell flat on her face. OHMYGOD. Ok, so now here is where I felt like Homer Simpson when he says "D'oh". I felt like such an Idiot. What kind of a guide am I? Ugh. I was so busy berating myself inside and fussing over her bloody and bruised knee that I almost missed her next words. She said "I am just so glad that you are with me." That stilled me. Man, old people are so wise. Yes. She is right. What if I wasn't there? No one would have helped her up. So maybe there was a reason that we crossed paths that morning. It might be as small as helping her get up when she tripped or as simple as crossing the street but that was enough to make me glow for the rest of the day.

I believe I have earned my Assisting the Elderly Badge with honors... Kaa Kaa!!

-the tikila meister