Did I Make a Mistake? - I'll Let You Decide

Originally Written Between 2013-2015   

It’s a picture-perfect fall day in Minnesota.  My sister, Joanne, is visiting from Florida and we are visiting our brother, Steve, who lives in an assisted-living facility in Hudson, Wisconsin.  We usually take him out for lunch, then a movie (his choice).  If he’s low on pop, candy, deodorant and other essentials, we make a Wal-Mart run.  Then, dinner at Steve’s favorite restaurant – Shanghai Bistro.   

 

But, last week was different.  After the movie, we decided to head to Stillwater to look at the leaves and, of course, stop for ice cream along the way.  What a beautiful drive and it was fun just reminiscing about our childhood days growing up in Forest Lake.  

 

After the ice cream stop, we continued our ride into downtown Stillwater.  While going down a very steep hill toward the river, I noticed a young woman on the sidewalk trying to hold up an elderly man.  She was waving her arms to get someone to stop and help her.  I immediately pulled over and stopped the car.  I quickly ran to them and asked if I could help.  The woman introduced herself as Sarah and told me that she saw this gentleman walking unsteadily and she, herself, pulled into an empty lot and ran to help him. 

 

So, Sarah and I held onto each arm and very slowly walked him to his little apartment which was about half a block away.  We found out he was 87 years old and his name was Norm.  Well, how could I possibly refuse to help someone named Norm?  We got him in his apartment and he rested in a chair that was in the entryway.  Sarah retrieved her two-year old daughter out of her car and we put away his groceries that he had in a little tote bag.  Got him some water and helped him to his couch.  We offered to call a neighbor or a relative and he promised that he would call his sister immediately after we left.  Sarah then told me that she was so grateful that I had stopped since she had been frantically waving her arms to flag some help for quite a while.

 

Feeling pretty good about helping Norm, I went back to my van and told my siblings what Sarah and I had done.  The first words out of my sister’s mouth were:  “What?  You should have called 9-1-1.  You shouldn’t have gotten involved!”

 

I couldn’t believe it.  How could she react that way?  What’s her problem?  She was so upset that I had stopped.  She’s actually yelling at me saying again and again, “You should have called 9-1-1.”  I tried explaining that all I did was help him walk a few steps to his apartment.  She kept interrupting me yelling, “then…. You call 9-1-1!”  Never did I hear the words, “Gee, Mary – that was good of you to help them.”

 

Honestly, the thought of calling 9-1-1 never entered my mind.  I saw someone in need, stopped the car, and helped them.  Sarah evidently didn’t think about calling 9-1-1 either.  She saw a need and did what she could.

 

So – did I make a mistake?  Should I have called 9-1-1?  You decide.