Totally Frenched Out

From the blogger formerly known as Samdebretagne

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

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.

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10 Comments:

Blogger Kathrin said...

Sam, you are so right!

January 19, 2011 at 7:10 AM  
Blogger deedee said...

I know what you mean. I remember going out for a coffee the morning after my Dad died and staring at the other patrons happily sipping their coffees. It felt so strange. I try to be patient with rude people, you never know what they are going through.

January 19, 2011 at 8:28 AM  
Blogger Crystal said...

that's so sad :( I hope it was an accident too...

It's strange you talked about this on your post because it's something I've been thinking about the last few days...what's really going on with the people and places around me...behind the scenes stuff.

And we all deal with grief in different ways and I don't think we know how we will react over a loved one's death until it happens. There's no right or wrong way to feel..you just have to feel.

January 19, 2011 at 9:07 AM  
Blogger Jennifer said...

I always think about that too, when people are acting a little off. You never know what is going on behind the scenes.

January 19, 2011 at 10:43 AM  
Blogger Leesa said...

Hey Sam

Very true reflections of a tragic incident.. Though I don't know what happened, a lot of those are people who jumped, sadly! I makes me very sad! I have a friend who committed suicide by jumping 10 stories from his window... Also, at UCSD, people sometimes jumped of the 11 story building of our dorms... It's horrible.
It hits me every time the metro is delayed because of someone jumping in front of the train.. And it does happen frequently... I know how people can feel so down but I just wish they could get help...
I also know the feeling you mentioned after your dad died.. It's a very numb feeling, I felt it too, after my mom passed away and it just looms over you for awhile...
I always feel so bad for the person's friends and familiy... It's such a sad waste of a precious life...
Thanks for posting this...

January 19, 2011 at 1:08 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Great post... I often think about this as well.. Last year I lost a couple of friends... taken way too soon.. I walked around in a haze for days, just wondering how the world could just go on as if nothing happened...

January 20, 2011 at 8:53 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I saw that, as well, through an email from the American Library. How horribly tragic, and a reminder of how sometimes poorly-anchored those wrought-iron railings can be in the old Haussmanian buildings. I once saw a guard rail fall to the street as someone was cleaning it. Thankfully no one got hurt.

January 20, 2011 at 12:07 PM  
Blogger A Tank said...

There's a quote I remember that goes something like, "be kind to everyone you meet, for they are fighting a hard battle". It's a good reminder that you never know what's going on behind the scenes.

January 21, 2011 at 12:53 AM  
Blogger Quantumhollapena said...

‎"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle" -Plato

These words ring especially true and really should be considered everyday.

January 21, 2011 at 7:49 PM  
Blogger Marie said...

That's what I call "le bénéfice du doute". I really try to be nice with rude people thinking of could have happened to them. It's not like it's written on their T-shirt !
Thank you for your post Sam...

January 31, 2011 at 10:56 PM  

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