Mi Vida Loca (chapter 2)

Some day I might well pay the price for my choices.

Over the past year, I’ve cautiously intervened in three simmering domestic violence incidents and one potential child abuse incident.  I called the police in two cases.

On my way to the Citizen Police Academy alumin association yesterday, I saw a couple in a parking lot.  They were clearly arguing.  Their truck was parked with doors open, suggesting they’d ‘bailed out’ quickly to escalate matters on the street.

I made a U-turn and drove slowly past them to assess the situation.  No fists raised, no obvious weapons.  I pulled into the adjoining parking lot to keep an eye on them, ready to call the police, but also ready to approach them carefully if necessary.  They seemed to calm down, got into the truck, then drove away.

I share this story, not to prove any heroics.  Sometimes merely ‘bearing witness’ through one’s presence is enough to help calm matters.  Carefully chosen words can help.  I confronted one man with, “You need to treat one another nicer.”  (I also called the police afterward.)

Another time I approached a father loudly cursing his young son and asked, “Is there anything I can help with?”  I stayed long enough to see things calming down, then headed into Walmart.  Ten minutes later I met both of them in the frozen foods aisle.  I asked if they liked Klondike bars.  Once we were out in the parking lot again, I shared ice cream with both.  The father thanked me and said, “God Bless you.”

Jill and I had an ‘animated’ discussion last  night about my risky behavior.  I assured her I have no wish to become the evening’s news about violence on the streets, so I exercise as much care as I can.  But as I told her previously, I know I’m going to die some day, and in the meantime I choose not to live in fear, and not to turn my back on what happens around me.

Copyright © 2017-10-12, Mike Kruchoski, All Rights Reserved.