Sonder

[stgulik]

I fell off the commuter train this morning. I can't confide this to anyone but you people.

Like, I grabbed the sidebar when I went to climb the steps, but I had something else in my hand so I only grabbed with a couple of fingers. And they slid right off the bar. And then I was falling backwards, thinking, hey I can regain my footing well before gravity overtakes me completely.

My feet flirted with the concrete but wouldn't commit to a relationship. So I continued down until I landed on my back.

I'm all right. I'm barely even sore! But I was hugely embarrassed. The train rolled away and I took my sorry ass to a bench and hung out there until the next one arrived. A homeless guy sat down next to me and expressed sympathy while I sniffled a little. He was wearing a sleeping bag. We talked for fifteen minutes.

I'll just leave this here.

sonder

n. the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness—an epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you’ll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk.

Comments

[shiv5468.livejournal.com]

Ouch. I hope it was only your pride that was hurt.

[stgulik.livejournal.com]

Wasn't that enough?? LOL

[of-anoesis.livejournal.com]

Oh, bless! I'm glad you weren't hurt!

I live in terror of the day I fall down the stairs on the bus. Ever since they started to use double deckers on my route, I've know it will only be a matter of time...

[stgulik.livejournal.com]

Just make deliberate movements. As I will starting from today. :-)

[nagandsev.livejournal.com]

Oh good lord, please try not to be upset with your self--it was an accident--yes, you felt embarrassed but it is over. Finished. The past. This comes from nag the klutz, who has more than once, walking in flats, mind you, on a main street, casually trying to eat ice cream in one hand and be cool with my kids, stumbled and fell flat--each mark on my knees has a story to tell;-) The doctors always ask me what the hell has happened, not believing that the scars are from domestic duties and mundane activities.

I know you don't want to hear this again, but yes, thank god you weren't seriously hurt--shook up, but nothing broken. Just please don't beat up on yourself about this. It's over. The homeless man was so kind--how precious! Oh, stgulik, *infamous virtual hugs* and just give yourself some extra time tomorrow when you're going to work and try not to brood too much about this--sharing it I hope helps you feel a wee bit better *squish*

[stgulik.livejournal.com]

More a bruised ego than anything! I got over it pretty quickly, I promise. I liked the homeless guy; he told me all about his drug addictions. It was the weirdest confession I ever received. Thanks for all these squishes, Nag!

[toblass.livejournal.com]

It can happen to anyone. I'm just glad to hear you are not physically hurt. Your ego will get over it soon enough.

[stgulik.livejournal.com]

As my ego gets over it, my back actually starts to feel sore. Darn it!

[beffeysue.livejournal.com]

*sending gentle hugs and heartfelt sympathy*

Glad you weren't hurt too badly.

[stgulik.livejournal.com]

Thank you, beffeysue. Only my pride.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

OH, sweetie! I can so sympathise. I am the clumsiest person on earth. I have fallen down more stairs than I care to admit. I trip over my own two feet constantly. I once cracked both ankles jumping down from a chair while hanging mini-blinds.

My advice would be to really, really check yourself, for bruises, pain, etc. You may not hurt now, but tomorrow you may find you do. If your body is hurt, it will try and let you know.

I think the main reason the Hubs has zero respect for me is having to watch me fall so many times. He is hugely unsympathetic.

[stgulik.livejournal.com]

One day, you and I will just pick each other up from our various clumsy moments. It'll be all right.

[droxy.livejournal.com]

Hugs! I was pushed UP an escalator, my knees were not happy for days.

[stgulik.livejournal.com]

Owwwww. Those sharp stairs. Poor thing!

[mimimanderly.livejournal.com]

This post made me laugh so hard! Not the part about you falling; I'm not into slapstick. But the homeless guy... he's precious. You just have such a deadpan way of relating this. I tell ya, Jules, there's a short story in there somewhere!

[stgulik.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad I made you laugh. That guy was a kick, all right. He'd make fascinating reading!

[celestialbeing1.livejournal.com]

Noooooo!! Listen, you are not allowed to hurt yourself! We can't all be falling down! But I'm glad you're alright. You just took me back to college when I ran to the LIRR...and fall right on my front, palms down in the dirt. My hands got scraped, my knees banged, and my pride wounded.

"My feet flirted with the concrete but wouldn't commit to a relationship. So I continued down until I landed on my back."

I am so sorry for laughing at this but my goodness...you have a way with words!! Again, just laughing at the words, not you falling because that would just be mean. Again, glad you're okay!!

[stgulik.livejournal.com]

I definitely am okay, thanks!