Be a force for good

Three of my friends and I were the first car stopped at a red light and witnessed a car traveling, cross traffic, at approximately 25mph, squarely hit a pedestrian in the cross walk. I rushed into the intersection and got age, general condition, and medical conditions to relay to my friend on the phone with 911. Remarkably the 46 year old male who was hit was conscious the whole time, only showed minor abrasions on his head, but was complaining of very bad pain to his core. He kept moving his head about way too much. I tried to keep him still, talking, and offered my jacket as a headrest/pillow because of his awkward neck position on his side.

As expected our wonderful emergency services showed up, locked down the intersection, removed the injured man on a backboard, and got our statements.

San Jose Fire, EMT, and Police you guys just flat out rock.

Lessons for next time:

- When you get a funny answer back from someone who just experienced trama there is no need to try and rationalize it much. I did fine in asking the question again later but my brain grappled with a first answer of age being 26, when clearly he was 30+, for too long. Know that people are going to be out of sorts and just talk through it like we did.

- I did pretty well with the set of questions. Could have asked about any meds he might be on for the one medical condition he did have. Could have also asked if he might have been drinking. Some evidence suggests that might have been a possibility.

- I should spend the $40 to become CPR certified and carry one of those little mouth shield things. Also a pair of latex gloves might not be a bad idea either. Should add that to an EDC system. These items were not needed in this instance but very easily could be.

I kind of half way wonder if it wasn’t a good thing we missed our turn and ended up at that intersection at that time. As a group, us 4 “silly-vilians”, did pretty all right prep for the emergency services.

http://www.chronique.com/Library/Chivalry/code.htm

A good write up.

Made some guy “lose his girlfriend” today. Apparently, in order to “keep” her he had to throw his body between her car door and the car so she couldn’t close it and get away.

What caught my attention first was his slightly menacing and dominant posture bending over her in the car. She was saying things like, “get the f* off, go away, let me leave.”

I took all that in as I rode by on my bike but it didn’t really click and set in until my bike was a good 15 feet past the car. I did a little loop, pointed myself back down the street toward the confrontation, rode up along side, and pointed my bike light in the door.

I rolled on by slowly, and said, “Is everyone all-right?”

Why oh why is this always the first response from the guy? It always is. “We are fine. Go away. This is none of your business.”

Three points goes to the lady for the response of, “Anyone riding by would think this is their business.” That right there was as good as a huge scream for help. My resolve was now officially steely.

Menacing mid late 20 something guy looks at me and says, “I am going to call the cops on you for being out in front of my house.”

Now, if I wasn’t getting slightly jacked up on adrenaline at this point, because this now had all the markers of something that could get violent, I would have laughed my ass off. Call the cops on me? For riding my bike down the public street and stopping you from picking on your girl?

The law card was played. My mind reeled to take this all in and offered up, “False imprisonment. You cannot hold someone against their will. Let her go.” He wanted law? He could have some.

What ensued next was about one minute of lovers quarrel conversation: her saying something about cheating, him accusing her of being a drama queen, let me go, let’s just talk, and so on. I rode a circle or two listening and watching, got off my bike, and drew my weapon. My weapon, being my cell phone.

Prepared to dial, across the road, I waited to see where things were going. I got ready to key in 911 because I was for sure going to be the only call and before I endangered myself with physical confrontation I wanted to make sure the cavalry would be on the way.

It’s amazing how things like this have almost a set course they are going to follow. One of two things is going to happen right here: dumb ass is going to let her go, and they can cool off, or dumb ass is going to try and continue to hold her there and things will get nasty. Seems obvious right? It’s just that you could predict the climax to this thing coming in the next minute. It was there.

She decided to make another attempt at leaving. Grabbing the door she pulled it in on him and crushed him a few times between the car frame and the door. I’m sure he could feel it. These were not little love taps like scooch out of the way. It wasn’t an intent to injure either but more to make a point. A couple pushes with her hand and he finally slid down the side of the car and turned to walk away back inside.

He sulked a little as he walked towards his house, pathetic, and said something I couldn’t quite make out over the car engine and her pulling away. I think some of it was, “Good job buddy. You made me lose my girlfriend.” Well pal, like I said before, these things have a set course. Either she might be love blind, or a dumb ass like you, and you guys can have great makeup sex sometime in your future while laughing at me. Or maybe it just wasn’t meant to be because you’re a manipulative bully?

Either way tonight ended in less tears.

I am all for chasing after someone you love. I don’t doubt that these two late 20 somethings cared for one another. But if you catch ‘em, and they don’t want to be caught, you let go!

Fight for what you love. Don’t fight the one you love.

... and I am saying hello to EVERY person I cross paths with. Kind of an interesting social experiment. Some people will light up and say hello back, others will shyly greet you, and others won’t say anything at all.

A very small thing but a surprisingly positive and friendly/neighborly thing. Like my building driving karma this is building neighborhood walking karma. =-)

– Be kind, smart, chivalrous, loyal, a force for good, and treat all people with respect. –

Exude courtesy. Use speech which reflects my intelligence, values, and caring. Help those that need it out of sincerity. Recognize those that have less, and without selflessness or abasement, find ways to give them more. That act only ever contributes to my “more” and global good as well. Stand up for what is right in the face of adversity. Protect those weaker than I. Never intentionally hurt anyone unless it is the only means to stop a more greater harm. Maintain grace and class under fire.

So far in my life to date I’m doing pretty well with this.

- Around 11pm one night I stopped some domestic violence in the parking lot area behind my apartment. A little bravado and mere presence was enough. In truth she saved herself by screaming and getting me to come look for her. I didn’t give him any reason to fight me though he tried to scare me off. The police scolded me a little for getting involved but thought I might have saved her life. Turns out the guy had choked, kicked, and dragged her by her hair. He was a karate/judo instructor with a history of domestic violence behavior. Worst kind of bully.

- Helped a lady calm down and move her car after an auto accident. Checked up on the other car driver as well. People shaken up but no serious injuries. Police called by, of all people, a tow truck driver who witnessed the accident as well. Police arrive and all is well.

- I’ve been a good friend, especially when it was needed most.

Areas to watch are my speech (I’m too apt to casually swear and over use slang) and also I have to watch where my friends influence my behavior away from my core beliefs. I’m loyal almost to a fault here. (curse being a Leo) I tend to gossip a bit which is really kind of below me. (yeah, I’m that freaking cool … LOL)

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” (Edmund Burke)

Must be a guy thing, but sometimes a little foolishly I like to try and play hero. Usually I’m not too stupid about this but if I manage to expire before my time in pursuit of this I hope my family will understand and forgive my slight recklessness.