La Jeunesse

The French really need to learn to salt their sidewalks. But if they had, I wouldn't have gotten this message.


Today it snowed and in the morning and evening hours the sidewalk froze in several spots. I trudged out in the downpour in my UGGs which provided neither the warmth or traction I had anticipated. I slipped all the way to my first school, even landing once on a bed of snow, scoffing at myself for being so clumsy.


But all the way I kept thinking, it's lucky I still can pull myself up, imagine what would happen if I were older and couldn't pull myself up. The thought followed me around all day. I have always had a very active imagination and sometimes lose myself in scenarios that sometimes have nothing to do with me. I kept picturing people falling ALL day. It was quite weird.


It's a well known fact that I can't cook. I am quite good at eating, but cooking is a skill I've never HAD to acquire. I decided I wanted Indian food tonight and given that I have neither the ability NOR the coconut milk to make curry, I decided to head out. But as I walked to the restaurant, I found it was closed and had to settle for something different (and cheaper).


I slowly made the frigid walk home when I spotted a woman sitting on the ground cradling her knee, while her cane, purse and small dog lay beside her. I had seen enough from taking care of my arthritic mother to know she wasn't going to be able to get up on her own.


I walked to her and in broken french asked if she was okay. She couldn't have been much older than 65 and was about my size. I saw her face streaming with tears. I didn't know how long she had been sitting there waiting. I offered her a gloved hand, but she slid a little more on the ice. This was going to be a difficult save. I looked around and noticed a bench about 15 feet away and I grabbed her cane and asked her to "take it." She understood and I dragged her to the bench where we would have a sturdier support. I wrapped my arm around her and she pulled herself up onto the bench while I grabbed her purse and cane. The dog scooted closer to her. Luckily a policeman saw us and he turned his lights on. She was fine, but the officer offered to drive her home so she wouldn't have to risk falling on the slick roads.


I sat next to her, while she dried her eyes. And before I walked away she grabbed my arm, thanked me and said "Your youth. Have fun with it." I myself choked up and told her "You're still young." She shook her head.


Before you think, Melissa is just telling us this story because she wants a pat on the head and to be told "Good girl", that's not it. Not even a little bit. I had been so worried about other things, stupid and inconsequential, that I had been squandering a lot of opportunities to really enjoy this carefree and independent time in my life. You may say I'm silly, stupid or superstitious, but I don't believe in accidents. All day I had been imagining a similar scenario and it had happened, delivering a message I needed to hear. As I watched the woman drive away in her car, I felt all my worries melt away and took a deep breath. Everything in my life that was stressing me out was temporary. I should enjoy this moment because there may be a time when I will no longer be able to be independent and have these opportunities. I stopped sniffling and began the long trek home....slipping and sliding all the way.