So I get home from work last night and go about my evening routine. Check on the kids and go make supper. Everyone is fed and cleaned and it’s time to head outside and tend to the animals. As I go about my evening chores, I notice a little old lady walking in my front yard carrying a stick larger than herself. I walk over to her and ask if she needs help. She seems distant. She tells me she has a flat tire and pulled into the end of my driveway.
So I tell her why don’t you come inside for some tea and we will wait for my husband. WELL….wrong thing to say. I don’t know what or who she thought I was but she f-r-e-a-k-e-d out!!! She said she could not come in my house as she was holding this stick. I said fine, lets go look at your car. We walked over to her car, I got the spare out of the trunk and told her that we should wait for my husband to do the rest. She had a new car and I didn’t want to scratch or break anything.
This whole time she is very distant and seemed scared. I asked her what was wrong and she said to me, “I’m sorry, you look sweet and are very polite and nice but now days, I don’t trust anyone!!” I tried to reassure her that I as just trying to help her but it didn’t work. Even when my husband got home, 15 minutes later and fixed the tire, she sait in the car with the doors locked and the window rolled down just a little. Once it was fixed, she was on her way.
She did thank us but I couldn’t believe it. I was shocked. I’m in my early 30’s and not out to harm anyone. I had my 4 kids with me ranging from 3-17 and she was scared of all of us. I’m still shocked. Honestly, I don’t think I look that scary!!!
Us Girls..Our Views 
Back about 100 years ago (OK, more like 40), my dad used to have a TV repair business. He would make house calls. One day he went to a home where the woman who’d called was kinda freaked out and held a loaded pistol on him the entire time he was there. While he was doing his work, she explained that she had just been raped and she was sorry, but she simply could not trust another man alone with her.
Maybe something terrible happened to this lady with the flat tire, that she could not tell you about.
Or, maybe she was just a little off.
Don’t feel bad about it. It certainly wasn’t anything you did! I am sure she would have acted the same way no matter whose driveway she found herself in.
I tend to agree with SKL. Maybe she was just a little off or was just confused. Lord knows as I age, confusion does start to set it!! LOL!!! Sad but true.
The thing that’s sad is she came to you, you didn’t go to her. That she could see your home and kids and pretty much, your life and she still came to you and you were helping her. It would have been different if your group was in her yard. You know??
I feel bad for her and hope she got home okay. I know where you live and you know almost everyone so I’m left wondering if she was on her way to Winnipeg or where she was going to or coming from. Let’s hope she’s okay and thank you for helping her. I can see her being afraid of Mike, but you and the kids???? LOL, just kidding Mike!!
What you did to help was very nice. It wasn’t your fault she was scared of you.
One night a few years ago we were sitting in our house and our dog started barking her head off and we looked out and saw lights from a car in our driveway. Our dog was in the house. Nobody got out and the person started honking her horn. We couldn’t figure out what was going on so my husband went outside. Here a lady was lost but was afraid to get out of her car because us “country people” always have “wild” dogs!! My husband was nice but I was irritated. How can you just sit and honk in someone’s yard and then ask for help AFTER calling us “county people!” Good thing the hubby went out and not me. I’m not sure I would have been as gracious.
I think you did a really good thing. If she didn’t want to go in your house and the weather was okay, that’s okay that you just stood outside. I feel more bad for her thinking how scared she must have been and then having to go drive home. I hope she ended up being okay.
Isnt that sad. Our society makes us so scared of one another. The media constantly shoving images at us of horrible things happening.
Fact is… that it doesn’t happen any more often than it did 100 years ago. Its just that there is more media coverage of it now….
😦 At least you tried. Maybe that will help her be less scared next time?
You didnt look scary, its just that this world is full of bad things happening. It ruins it for the rest of us that are care givers. It like I ask my self a question, Should I stop ti help that car that is on the side of the road? Maybe, Maybe not, How do I know what the outcome is? It is like when someone stops to ask you if you need help or a ride, if makes you stop and think, should I ot shouldnt I?