This past Sunday, I popped by the American library to pick up some books for my upcoming work trip. There was an ambulance and a bunch of policemen out front, but I just figured it was for something else going on in the neighborhood - Until I got the following email today:

A message to Library patrons

On Sunday afternoon (January 16) a resident of the apartment building above the Library fell from an upper-story window onto the glass roof of the research center. She did not survive the fall.

Five Library patrons working in that space were shaken but thankfully unhurt. Holly Tisseyre of our staff and Sunday volunteers handled the disruption of pompiers and medical personnel with calm professionalism.

As a consequence of this tragic incident, the recently-renovated research center space will be closed for several days while the roof is provisionally repaired. The installation of new glass panels will occur in three or four weeks and will necessitate the closing of the research center once again for a few days. All of the staff of the Library and I appreciate your understanding.

In the meantime our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased.

Charles Trueheart, Director

How sad is that? I had actually tried to go back into the research center and was surprised to see it all blocked off, especially since it has just reopened. Hopefully it was an accident. It's just yet another reminder as to how much goes on around us completely unnoticed.

It makes me think of the day I found out my father had died, and how I just wandered around in a haze, looking at all the people going about their lives, so oblivious to how much my life had just changed. Sometimes I wonder how many people in similar situations I pass every day. I guess it's a good reminder for me to be more patient with those who seem rushed or unnecessarily rude - you never know what they've got going on behind the scenes.