A Life of Crime and Chocolate

heyjude · May 17, 2013

Onesecond, you're a wonderful, kind soul. Thank God you stopped and helped that woman and her dog.

What kind of person doesn't stop when they hit an animal? There was an article in the paper this morning about a guy who hit a sandhill crane and just left her to die with her baby chick running around in circles, terrified. Fortunately someone else with some common decency saw it and got the baby help. He's doing fine with a surrogate.

That person, btw, was allegedly texting while driving, which I'm thinking might be a death penalty offense. Ordinarily I don't support the death penalty, but...

:Hug2:

one second. Let us know if you hear from her.

asroc · May 17, 2013

Thanks for doing this, OSG. You're a good person.

lizmonster · May 17, 2013

Osg, you are a good person. Your kindness to this woman and her dog was truly a gift - no matter what happens, you helped. She will always know that the world is not just full of people who run from accidents, it's also full of kind-hearted strangers who will help because it's the right thing to do.

GailD · May 17, 2013

OSG. Thank you for what you did. It matters! :Hug2:

IAMWRITER · May 17, 2013

Osg, you did an amazing thing. :Hug2:

onesecondglance · May 17, 2013

Thank you everyone. Mr Mitchell, you put it well. Very strange and surprising just how much it affected me.

I've not heard from the woman yet. I can only hope that means that she is thinking about Bea and that there's a chance things will be all right.

Sorry to lay this on you guys. I just had to get it out, you know? And, selfishly, I feel better for having done so, but I can walk away from this. I think about the driver who didn't stop, who changed that woman's life, and I want to get angry. I want to feel white-hot rage burning inside me and to scream out all my frustration, to tell them they are a horrible person and that they should be ashamed, but I can't. All I can feel is this sadness that it probably wasn't as callous and heartless a person as I'd like to imagine.

It's a twisty, narrow country road. We all drive too fast down there. I was sticking religiously to the 50mph speed limit because you don't piss on your own doorstep, but even at that speed there's very little hope of avoiding it if a dog runs into the road. There's every chance that driver didn't realise they'd hit Bea until a couple of corners later. I've struck a deer before, and your mind doesn't want to register it. That driver only made one tiny decision, to drive on, and that was the only thing they did wrong. I don't want to condemn them because I can all too easily imagine myself in their position. I hope I'd stop. We should all always stop.

Thank you all for letting me talk this out.

heyjude · May 17, 2013

We're glad you did.

A few days ago I was on my way home from a troubling meeting. My mind was going a million miles a minute with all the things in life I couldn't control, the kid I wasn't sure how to help, the whole bit.

In the middle of the road there was a turtle, trying desperately to cross the busy street. I pulled over and hopped out of the car, was halfway to him when a guy saw me and ran over the turtle on purpose. He didn't even slow down. The guy behind him didn't slow down. No one did. I nearly got creamed standing in the middle of the road, crying for this poor turtle.

I know as a Christian I'm meant to love everyone, but some people make it hard.

onuilmar · May 17, 2013

Oh, my OSG. What a morning. What a kind act.

HJ, yes, I have seen people aim for my cat in the road. Luckily it's a village road and the drivers aren't going that fast. But still. I have hit wild animals that just swerve in front of me and feel awful afterward. But to deliberately aim.... (HJ, we all love you for your kind heart.)

As a side note, I one time helped a turtle across the road. But it was a 150 lb monster of a snapping turtle. That thing was a menace to drivers. (My son, who was six at the time, asked to see my fingers afterward. lol. Basically, because he knew snappers could take fingers.)

heyjude · May 17, 2013

Thanks, onu. :Hug2:

I always feel awful too, when I hit someone accidentally. And those snappers are dangerous! I've had blood drawn on more than one occasion.

And just when my faith in my fellow humans is at its lowest, someone comes along and restores it just a little.

lizmonster · May 17, 2013

onesecondglance said:
That driver only made one tiny decision, to drive on, and that was the only thing they did wrong. I don't want to condemn them because I can all too easily imagine myself in their position. I hope I'd stop. We should all always stop.

When I was a kid, we had a kitten who was prone to running into the road. One night the inevitable happened. The driver brought the kitten to our door. My mother told me he was sobbing. Even as a child, I never blamed that man - I missed my kitty, and I cried over him, but I also felt bad for the poor guy who hit him.

He got forgiveness for what happened - real absolution. The driver in your situation is always going to wonder what happened, and will always feel awful. In the moment - yeah, it's often easier to run, but all that means is you pay forever.

You would stop, if it were you. You DID stop for this woman and her dog, and performed a wonderful act of kindness.

muse · May 17, 2013

heyjude said:
Thanks, onu. I always feel awful too, when I hit someone accidentally. And those snappers are dangerous! I've had blood drawn on more than one occasion.

And just when my faith in my fellow humans is at its lowest, someone comes along and restores it just a little.

That is such a sweet story, HJ.

Can't believe anyone would hurt an animal deliberately. Anyone can have an accident, but to drive off and leave an animal hurt, or dying in the road... :rant:

OSG I hope you hear about Bea soon and that it's good news, but at least you know you did your best - a lot wouldn't have. :Hug2:

GailD · May 17, 2013

heyjude said:
And just when my faith in my fellow humans is at its lowest, someone comes along and restores it just a little.

This ^ is just too precious for words. I left a message on their fb page.

French Maiden · May 17, 2013

What na amazing thing you did. Even if the woman never contacts you, I'm sure she'll remember your kindness adn comapssion for the rest of her life.

Here is Australia we have heaps adn heaps of marsupials. If you hit one on the road you're meant to stop nad check it's pouch for babies. Unfortunately there arent enough people like you OSG, nad this doesnt get done, so many needless deaths.

heyjude · May 18, 2013

Hey, guys, prayers and well-wishes needed here. My pastor's middle child is very ill (in ICU) and I'm taking care of his other two boys, one of whom is also sick. It's really overwhelming. Thanks!

Shakesbear · May 18, 2013

((((((((((HJ)))))))))) lots of well wishes and vibes.

asroc · May 18, 2013

GailD said:
heyjude said:

And just when my faith in my fellow humans is at its lowest, someone comes along and restores it just a little.

Click to expand...

This ^ is just too precious for words. I left a message on their fb page.

Maybe another story about people being nice to ducks would cheer you guys up? (features ducklings in a bucket)

Thoughts and good wishes, HJ!

heyjude · May 18, 2013

Thanks, Gail.

Aw, asroc, that was a sweet story! And thanks.

Ken Hoss · May 18, 2013

Prayers coming your way, HJ. :Hug2:

lizmonster · May 18, 2013

I'll be thinking of you today, hj, and the family you're looking after.

vagough · May 18, 2013

OSG, thank you for sharing that story. Whatever happens with that poor dog, his owner will always remember your kindness and concern.

heyjude said:
We're glad you did.

A few days ago I was on my way home from a troubling meeting. My mind was going a million miles a minute with all the things in life I couldn't control, the kid I wasn't sure how to help, the whole bit.

In the middle of the road there was a turtle, trying desperately to cross the busy street. I pulled over and hopped out of the car, was halfway to him when a guy saw me and ran over the turtle on purpose. He didn't even slow down. The guy behind him didn't slow down. No one did. I nearly got creamed standing in the middle of the road, crying for this poor turtle.

I know as a Christian I'm meant to love everyone, but some people make it hard.

Unbelievable. I like to think there's a special place in hell for people who do that sort of thing.

vagough · May 18, 2013

heyjude said:
Hey, guys, prayers and well-wishes needed here. My pastor's middle child is very ill (in ICU) and I'm taking care of his other two boys, one of whom is also sick. It's really overwhelming. Thanks!

Sending them your way, HJ, both for his child and for you -- you've had a lot going on lately!

French Maiden · May 18, 2013

heyjude said:
Hey, guys, prayers and well-wishes needed here. My pastor's middle child is very ill (in ICU) and I'm taking care of his other two boys, one of whom is also sick. It's really overwhelming. Thanks!

Oh no! Prayers and well wishes go to the family from Oz.

heyjude · May 18, 2013

Thanks everyone. Keep praying. The latest update doesn't sound good.

Shakesbear · May 18, 2013

Vibes and wishes still coming.

Need to vent! A friend asked me if I could 'run her up' some cushion covers. I said of course. What I did not expect was to be handed a large amount of silk that was more than a tad smelly and two cushions of different sizes. I washed the silk, by hand, with gloves on, twice. The first time the water went black as the silk went in. I then put the silk in the shower to rinse it. Washed it again. Showered (the silk) and then hung it up to dry. Then, oh joy of joys, the delight of ironing the silk which seemed to have a mind of its' own. I have cut and pinned the covers and am now taking a break before machining them up. End of rant!

GailD · May 18, 2013

Shakesbear said:
Need to vent! A friend asked me if I could 'run her up' some cushion covers. I said of course. What I did not expect was to be handed a large amount of silk that was more than a tad smelly and two cushions of different sizes. I washed the silk, by hand, with gloves on, twice. The first time the water went black as the silk went in. I then put the silk in the shower to rinse it. Washed it again. Showered (the silk) and then hung it up to dry. Then, oh joy of joys, the delight of ironing the silk which seemed to have a mind of its' own. I have cut and pinned the covers and am now taking a break before machining them up. End of rant!

That must be so frustrating. Some people are, I think, what I call 'dirt blind'. By that, I mean that they just don't see/notice things that are dirty. My hubby (bless his cotton socks) is like that. Maybe because he grew up on a farm, but he will come in from doing some gardening and leave a smear on the wall. When I point it out, he'll look at it, frown and say, 'where did that come from?' If I didn't point it out, he'd never notice it.

Maybe your friend is like that? She simply didn't notice that the silk had become dirty?

Talking about dirty - I got my hands dirty today. My daughters gave me gift vouchers for Mother's Day, one of which was for a plant nursery. :snoopy:

I've been putting in sweet peas, pansies and Iceland poppies all afternoon.

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