What Would You Do?

Friday morning was sunny and cool. After a client meeting I put some things in my car and noticed a woman leaning against a car two spaces away. She moved very little, looking relaxed as tho’ she was meditating. Who meditates in a parking lot? Especially this parking lot.


It’s a very trendy upscale shopping center where customers are highly controlled, uptight and buttoned up. Their classic stylish clothes help them blend in wherever they are.

Not wanting to scare her, carefully I approached the woman. A slurred reply to asking if she was alright told me she was not. She swayed, closed her eyes and leaned against the car again. I was afraid she’d fall over into the parking lot and hurt herself. Then she could get hit and cause someone else harm. What should I do?

From her answers to my short questions she mumbled “Get Tammy in Starbucks.”

Fortunately the car she leaned against was unlocked. I don’t know if it was her car and I didn't care. I opened the back door. With my guidance she sat down on the seat. At least if she passed out, she wouldn’t get hit by a car, I thought.

Into Starbucks I went. No one was Tammy. A young mother and the barista remembered the woman, saying she was acting odd. Together the young mother and I said we didn’t know what to do. My first thought was for the woman to be out of harm’s way, then to not cause harm for someone else. And what would be any backlash on me for actions I might take. What do you do?

The young mother, unable to find her sunglasses, went to ask the woman if she had them. A few minutes later the young mother returned, saying she found the woman passed out. The young mother went to the closest store where someone called 911 and rescue was on the way.

If you were in my shoes, what would you do?