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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 22 of 22. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Shortelise on June 25, 2005, at 10:58:18
I was just woken up by crying outside. I live next to an elementary school with a daycare attached so crying is not an unusual sound for us.
But it's Saturday morning. I looked out the window and there was a weeping young woman, howling, sobbing and doing that brain-damaged standing, moving, weaving thing that meth addicts do. They cannot stand still. God, how do they stand it, to do a drug that fries the brain beyond repair?
Not far from us there is an area of the city where the prostitutes are tolerated, so she's not the first I've seen around. Nor surely will she be the last. Butshe didn'thave a purse, was dressed in a tight dress with nothing on underneath. And was howling with painful crying.
I went out and asked her name. Ruby. Asked her why she was crying. Her mother died. I held her. She smelled like a girl, just like a girl, and cried in my arms like... anyone whose heart was broken. If there was anyone in this world who might still love this broken creature, perhaps it had been her mother, perhps she lost the only person who could still see the sweet child she had once been.
After about 2o minutes of asking what I could do for her, what she might need, she asked for money for the bus and a coffee. I gave her $5 and invited her to sit down, said I would be happy to make her coffee, but she was too freaked out, so off she went.
Now I smell like her. A nice smell, but I want to wash it off, and I think her mother would have been so glad to smell of her little girl.
ShortE
Posted by gardenergirl on June 25, 2005, at 11:11:25
In reply to crying prostitute, posted by Shortelise on June 25, 2005, at 10:58:18
Oh Shorte,
You are such a beautiful,sweet, kind, caring person.
(((((Shorte)))))
Posted by Gabbi-x-2 on June 25, 2005, at 11:53:03
In reply to Re: crying prostitute, posted by gardenergirl on June 25, 2005, at 11:11:25
Beyond words..
thank you
Posted by Dinah on June 25, 2005, at 11:58:25
In reply to crying prostitute, posted by Shortelise on June 25, 2005, at 10:58:18
That was so good of you. Not many people would have done what you did.
Posted by TamaraJ on June 25, 2005, at 12:17:17
In reply to crying prostitute, posted by Shortelise on June 25, 2005, at 10:58:18
What a sad, touching story. You are a kind-hearted soul to have reached out and given that young girl some measure of comfort and caring when she probably thought she would never experience comfort or caring again. It was a lovely thing you did - selfless and compassionate - and you are a lovely person.
(((shortelise)))
Posted by 10derHeart on June 25, 2005, at 15:17:14
In reply to crying prostitute, posted by Shortelise on June 25, 2005, at 10:58:18
I can't even think of any words good enough to describe how extraordinary you are.
Don't know if I've ever actually said this to anyone before, but with my own Christian background and beliefs, all I could think of was Jesus as I read your post.
Because what you did IS the answer to WWJD?
No - actually I thought of one more thing, also. This may not seem to go together with JC, but it works for me. Remember in the movie "As Good As It Gets" - where J. Nicholson's character says to Helen Hunt's, "You make me want to be a better man."
You make me want to be a better person - starting right this minute.
I still have chills. (((((ShortE)))))
Posted by gabbii on June 25, 2005, at 15:43:36
In reply to Re: crying prostitute » Shortelise, posted by 10derHeart on June 25, 2005, at 15:17:14
>
> I still have chills. (((((ShortE)))))Me too, I think it's one of the most beautiful things I've ever read, here, or anywhere, and what made it so touching was that the sincerity was palpable, it wasn't written for praise.
Posted by Tamar on June 25, 2005, at 16:29:59
In reply to crying prostitute, posted by Shortelise on June 25, 2005, at 10:58:18
You're an inspiration! What you did was wonderful. It's very comforting to know that there are people like you in the world.
Thank you for showing that woman some love.
Tamar
Posted by 10derHeart on June 25, 2005, at 16:40:56
In reply to Re: crying prostitute » 10derHeart, posted by gabbii on June 25, 2005, at 15:43:36
Posted by Jen Star on June 25, 2005, at 18:57:53
In reply to crying prostitute, posted by Shortelise on June 25, 2005, at 10:58:18
Short E,
you're a sweet, nice person. :) HOw nice that you tried to help her. It gives me a good feeling to know that people like you are out there, trying to help!JenStar
Posted by Shortelise on June 25, 2005, at 19:37:42
In reply to Re: crying prostitute » Shortelise, posted by Jen Star on June 25, 2005, at 18:57:53
Thanks for all these very kind words. It was just so, so sad.
I can't *not* take care of people like her. She was in front of my house. I'm an atheist, so this has nothing to do with God, but it just feels sometimes as though people are put on my path. I do what I can.
I want to be a better person, too. I loved that line from "As Good As It Gets" but had forgotten it. Thanks for the reminder.
ShortE
Posted by sleepygirl on June 26, 2005, at 0:06:21
In reply to Re: crying prostitute, posted by Shortelise on June 25, 2005, at 19:37:42
how heart breaking, you made me cry. How sweet and gentle you are.
Posted by caraher on June 26, 2005, at 13:02:05
In reply to crying prostitute, posted by Shortelise on June 25, 2005, at 10:58:18
Just wanted to add my voice to the chorus praising your compassionate act. You make this world a better place. :)
Posted by Damos on June 26, 2005, at 17:51:54
In reply to crying prostitute, posted by Shortelise on June 25, 2005, at 10:58:18
You're an amazing person Shortelise and the world is definitely so much the better for your being here.
Posted by Susan47 on June 26, 2005, at 21:40:54
In reply to Re: crying prostitute » Shortelise, posted by Damos on June 26, 2005, at 17:51:54
I have chills over the scalp... if I were that girl I would be so grateful to you. I would remember you forever. I would feel the kindness of being human, and I'd look for more, maybe I'd start to feel a bit better about myself because I was worth being cared about. (((ShortE)))
Posted by Shortelise on June 27, 2005, at 1:54:55
In reply to crying prostitute, posted by Shortelise on June 25, 2005, at 10:58:18
We all know, don't we, that we are what we do. Not what we think, not what we feel, not what we say, but what we do.
I don't think I am a good person, I just sometimes have the sense to do good things.
I often wonder about things like this, if I do them for myself or for the other person. I need to pull myself out of the mediocrity of my life, to take myself out of myself and do things that might make a difference for someone else. But don't I in fact do it for myself? Does altruism exist? Is it too pessimistic of me to think it deosn't? That even selflessness is selfish at it's centre? The ulterieur motive being to feel better about one's self.
Hm.
Posted by gabbii on June 27, 2005, at 3:42:45
In reply to thanks, posted by Shortelise on June 27, 2005, at 1:54:55
\ That even selflessness is selfish at it's centre? The ulterieur motive being to feel better about one's self.
>But if you weren't innately a kind, sensitive person helping someone else wouldn't make you feel good would it?
Posted by partlycloudy on June 27, 2005, at 9:03:39
In reply to crying prostitute, posted by Shortelise on June 25, 2005, at 10:58:18
What an inspiration for us all. Thank you for doing that, thank you even more for sharing with us.
Posted by sunny10 on June 27, 2005, at 12:46:52
In reply to Re: thanks » Shortelise, posted by gabbii on June 27, 2005, at 3:42:45
it is only a measure of your own low self-esteem that you are even questioning such a selfless act.
Ask yourself this.
Did you do it to get into heaven? (no, you're a self-proclaimed atheist).Will you ever get anything in return for your $5.00? (no, you will never see that money again)
Would anyone but you have known that you wished those kind thoughts about her mother if you hadn't shared your experience with us? (again, no)
Is anyone at Babble able to "do something as payback for you"? (no, we can only offer friendship and support as we always have)
Therefore, can it have been selfish to provide such warmth and comfort to a grieving girl that the world has left behind? Of course not.
It's okay that you're marvelous, you know.... We may not be able to be as altruistic as you, but we love you even when we're envious of how wonderful you are!
hugs to you just for being you, (((Shortelise))).
Posted by Shortelise on June 27, 2005, at 12:53:55
In reply to Re: thanks, ShortE, posted by sunny10 on June 27, 2005, at 12:46:52
That's so kind, Sunny. Thank you.
Posted by Shortelise on June 27, 2005, at 12:54:53
In reply to Re: thanks » Shortelise, posted by gabbii on June 27, 2005, at 3:42:45
Posted by Susan47 on June 29, 2005, at 19:15:22
In reply to thanks, posted by Shortelise on June 27, 2005, at 1:54:55
Yes but if what you're doing makes you feel good that doesn't cancel out the positive effect of the deed. It reiterates to me at least, that when you take care of your needs you are being an altruist.. just as a side-effect of taking care of yourself ...
This is the end of the thread.
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