Who are we? We are our stories.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Gunnar Buys Pastrami

Yesterday, as I entered the vestibule of the Hy-Vee Grocery, there was an old man laying face down, flat on the floor. I knelt down and asked him what the problem was. He said he was alright, he'd just fallen and couldn't get up. He was a big old boy, but I am too.  I crouched down over him, grabbed him under the arms and tried to pick him up. After a couple of failed attempts someone from the gathering crowd took one arm and together we hoisted him upright. I was shocked by my ineptitude. A few years ago I would have just picked him up off the floor and set him down on his feet. I asked if he was alright; he rested his hand on my shoulder and said he just needed to sit down a while. The two of us sat down on a bench while I caught my breath and he waited for his wife. Both of us felt sad,  he because he had fallen, and I because I couldn't help an old man get back on his feet.  We were just two old farts sitting on a bench.

4 comments:

Old Toad said...

At least the guy had another "old fart" to sit with him on the bench after his fall. As they say, "never pass up an old guy lying face down ... or up ... on the floor" ... even if you're not strong enough to pick him up!

reverend dick said...

Good post.

Anonymous said...

Oh, but Gunnar, YOU are one WISE old fart..

Enjoy your posts very much..

A belated Happy Birthday!

Debb (and Laurie)

Gunnar Berg said...

Thanks. It's a goal, an ongoing process - wisdom that is, not age or fartism.