Falling Down on the Job
Recently I travelled a few hours from my home to do a demonstration session. It takes quite a bit of prep to do one. For starters, here are a few things I think about…
- How many doughs will I need? In what stages will they need to be?
- Are all the ingredients measured out and marked in containers and bags?
- What equipment will be on hand and what will need to be brought? Rolling pins? Bowls? Scale?
- How many pies will need to be baked for tasting samples? Can they be made and cooled the night ahead?
- After the sample pies are baked, will there be enough fruit for the demonstration fillings? No? Make a note to stop at a store on the way to pick up any last minute ingredients.
- On this trip, I would be hopping on a plane the day after, so I also needed to factor in a place to stay before heading out for an early morning flight, and what to pack for that multi-day trip.
It’s just part of the territory and I love all of it…mostly. The part that I don’t love is something that happened unexpectedly the day of the demo. Let me tell you about it.
Early in the morning with pies, supplies, and equipment packed, I drove into Seattle. There were three appointments tacked onto the front of the day before the demo, and one after. Yah, I know it’s kinda crazy but when you live two and half hours away from the city, you try to pack in as much as possible on a trip.
Appointments and errands one, two, and three went smoothly. I even popped by to see a friend’s beautiful new business space. Then with plenty of time, I keyed in the address of the demo to the GPS on my phone, and headed out.
Downtown Seattle is a driving and parking challenge. It’s not like the old days, and I do mean old, when I could head into town any day of the week, any hour of day or night, and find a parking space…ANYWHERE! That was in the mid-1970’s. The Smith Tower in Pioneer Square and the Space Needle were still just about the tallest buildings. Now, they are dwarfed by mega towers.
I needed to find a spot to park and bring in my rolling cooler and pie basket. I had started to whistle for the parking fairy the night before I left Pie Cottage with hopes that she would bestow a bit of asphalt grace my way. Downtown Seattle? On a rainy Friday afternoon at rush hour? Sure, no problem. She heard me and came through with a spot where I could double park, just outside of the location the demonstration was to be held. I turned on my flashers, opened the hatch, and got my gear out and onto the sidewalk. Pulling the cooler with my right hand, and carrying the pie basket, with two pies in it, in my left, I got within feet of the door I was to enter. The metal covering on the street was wet and…
My feet went out from under me. Down went the cooler. Down went the pie basket. Down went me. I landed on my hip. Owie! I bent my wrist back. Double owie! The lid of the cooler opened and cranberries were rolling around on the street. Oh no! I was hurt but immediately kicked into crisis mode…you know, the one where you push pain aside and keep on going. A hand up would have been nice. An “are you alright” would have been appreciated. And, “do you need help?” would have been best of all. Here’s what happened next.
Not one person on the street around me, and there were a few walking by that had seen me fall, stopped. NOT ONE! I fell down on the job, but I really feel that others who saw what happened did, too. They glanced at me, and then kept on walking, even when I said that I was hurt.
I got to my knees, got everything back into the cooler, closed the lid, checked that the pies were still ok, slowly got up, and headed in to drop off everything for the demonstration. Then I walked back out to the car to find a real parking place on level 6 of the parking garage nearby. I did the demo. It went just fine. Folks were wonderful and the pies were a hit. I packed up and left to head on to the next appointment.
When everything was over for the day, and I was getting ready to bed down for the night, I looked and saw the huge and painful bruise on my hip, realized that my neck was out of whack, I had sore ribs, and a headache to boot.
I thought about what had happened that afternoon. How invisible I had felt. How old. How abandoned. How frustrated. But mainly, how hurt I felt inside that no one stopped to help me. We seem to have forgotten how important it is to help others no matter what.
So, here’s what I want to ask of you.
- Keep your eyes open for parking spots.
- Walk carefully when it is slippery and wet.
- And please please please, take a moment to show some care and lend a hand. You never know who may need it.
OK, I’ll get off my soap box for the day.
Oh dear. I’m so sorry you were hurt. But we should all thank you for the reminder to stop and help another person in need of a hand. Thank you and Merry Christmas.
It takes all of us. xo
I am so sorry to read this Kate. I can’t imagine not stopping and the callousness of those that passed you pains me. If there is any bright light here it is that you have hundreds of friends here that would have stopped in a second to provide care. Hugs to you and thanks so much for your kindness after I lost my dog recently. You are one in a million
I think of you every day Lynne and Greta and I look forward to our next play date with Rico!
xo
I am so sorry that you found yourself in such a discumbobulated situation-and alone. I often react by cocooning at home until I am brave enough again to weather the world after a disturbing situation. But -as strong kick ass women that we are-we heal and get right back out there.
I hope you recover quickly, rest, ice, advil…or my trusty frozen peas that have been frozen and refrozen for every fall. I am quite the dork and clumsy one, so frozen peas are a staple here.
I fell a few weeks ago as I climbed on top of 2 plastic tubs ( dumb thing #1) . I fell backward onto a metal clothing rack, pulling gym coats with me as padding. My son and husband were within ear shot but thought “Oh, she tripped again-as she always does”, and nobody responded. I lay there for about 10 minutes until I could get up. Boy-did they get a lecture! I have a bruise the size of Texas on my-well, you know where.
I find I put myself in these risky situations doing something I did not properly think through. So-mayb my answer is to slow down, be careful and wear slip proof shoes. Cheers and pie on.
Duly noted! Slowing down for the holidays here. xo
Kate I am so sorry to hear of your fall but doubly sorry to hear that no one was nice enough to stop. I am just glad to hear you are alright.
I fell here at the Galleria in Houston about a year ago on some construction that they had not taped down properly. Fortunately an older gentleman and young lady did help me up, but no security was present. Unfortunately I did not report anything and I have had operations and still doctoring with another operation or two down the road. So make sure you reported it to the location. And I hope you do not see complications further down the road. Take care and I agree that we should help others when something happens.
Your fall sounds horrible and I hope your operations will have you healed and better soon. I did mention something to the place but as it was on a city street it really wasn’t there issue. Fortunately, there was a medical professional at the location I travelled to the next day who was able to assess and help put me back together. The bruise is very colorful a week later, but I’m healing and feel VERY lucky that the damage was more to my feelings, than my body.
So sorry for your experience. I don’t understand the people who look the other way or look an don’t react in a way of kindness. Once when I was coming out of a store I was walking and fussing with my car keys instead of watching where I was going. I ended up tripping on some vine and found myself flying through the air. All I thought of was my husband’s words say, “you need to learn how to fall.” I flipped my body around and landed on my well padded behind. I’m sitting there working on a plan to get up (full knee replacement so can’t kneel on either knee) when the front doors of the car parked next to me shot open and two guys ran over to my side and each extended their arms out and took ahold of my upper arms and lifted me right up. It was such an out of body experience it still gives me a warm feeling … like they were angels! Maybe you should carry a whistle in your pocket for the next time you fall and just blow it as loudly as you can. Then yell, “can someone please help me.” Sad about society. Hope you heal quickly!
I made your apple pie recipe (with 6 very flavorful apples) added 1 cup fresh cranberries and some dried ones. One of the guests at Thanksgiving (he’s 48) told me it was the best apples pie he had ever eaten. He called it Crack Apple Pie but I told him I wasn’t going to call it that because of the opioid crisis. Was only telling you because it is an AMAZING pie. I love how each bite has a different flavor.
Thank the goddess for angels! And your pie sounds wonderful I’m glad your guests liked it too. 🙂
Yikes! I’m glad you are ok. However shame on those people who walked on by. Take it easy.
So sorry you fell on the job. Very glad all you had was bruises. A brake or sprain would put damper on things. Yes, I would have stopped and helped. Yes, it’s happened to me too….although not with pies. Oh my thank goodness the pies were safe too. Blessings and happiness to your travels. Warm regards, Sarah
I’m sorry, Kate, it’s not the same Seattle I grew up in. I hope we can all resolve to take better care of each other.
Glad you are ok. Sorry about your experience.
That is so sad to be in need and have no one show a giving heart….. I’m glad it didn’t ruin your demo! Another reason to live out of the city among friends…… and friendly strangers!
Oh man Kate, I am sorry you got hurt. Parking downtown any time any day is awful now. I was going to try and attend your demo until I realized it was downtown. Really sorry no one helped you. There are still a lot of great and helpful people here, but perhaps not as many as it was. I hope you are recovering well. Happy holidays.
I will stop! Even if I have to put down the Pie in my own hands. What world is this? You probably would have given the helper a piece of pie. Their loss.
Or a whole pie!
Sorry to hear about your fall. I’m glad I took the time to read your post . It is always good to get reminders of how we all need to take that extra minute to make sure others around us are doing ok. I think right now for for some reason your topic of watching out for others resonates a lot more. Thanks again
Wow…what a story…you will have to work that one into your next cookbook. I would consider writing an OP-ED piece for the Seattle Times. Lots of messages in your story for the masses—especially around this time of year and in our current political climate.
I am guessing that the folks that saw you might have thought you were one of the gazillion homeless people who live in the Pioneer Square area and couldn’t be bothered to help you. So sad. I carry coupons for food, granola bars and water in my car to give out to the homeless that stand at every exit ramp in Seattle (and many live at the exit ramp too.) It’s a small way to help. I might even back some hand pies for the holidays and give those out as well.
You are lucky that you did not break anything. Two years ago I was volunteering in a township in Cape Town, South Africa and slipped on the driveway of the guest house where I was staying. I dislocated and broke my ankle. The ambulance never came and I ended up taking a taxi to the hospital! I had to be operated on in Cape Town as well. I am still recovering from that accident. I never leave the country without trip insurance now. Thank goodness I had it then.
I hope you can rest for a few days and give yourself time to heal. Best wishes to you for a lovely holiday at Pie Cottage.
You know, I’ve had that thought too since I was wearing jeans, a well-worn rain jacket, and hiking boots. Baking pies to share is a great idea. Another, and very meaningful, version of pie-bys. I hope you have a complete recovery.
Kate, I so appreciate you sharing your story. Your courage and vulnerability really sets a great example and reminder how important it is to be there for each other always, holidays or not. I will look for opportunities to give my fellow travelers a hand up where I can. Hope you heal quickly.
dear Kate Im so sorry you have to suffer this, especially when you are an amazing and lovely person. Im glad you are ok.
Dont feel alone, many of us really love you. hugs !
Kate dear…..NO matter what you did, silly or not thinking, or just accidentlly, should those around you who saw you just ignore your distress or even check to see if you are OK! What is wrong with people? What is our world coming to? A world with of a lot of selfish, self-centered, ignorant people who can’t see further than the end of their nose when it might involve they exert themselves a tiny bit for someone they don’t know! ARGHHHHH! Boils my blood! Just glad you are OK!
Two years ago on a trip from Portland I fell on a sidewalk in Ballard. I was luckily with a friend, but no less than three people stopped to help. I feel very lucky about the kindness of strangers, but less lucky that I had broken my elbow. The people at Swedish Medical were wonderful to me. So sorry about your fall.
Kate – I’m so sorry that you fell and that no one helped you. I can assure you that if you had been in the South that you would have had all sorts of kind and gentle Southerners helping you up and gathering your things – probably even offers to get you to a Dr. That’s just the way we were raised.
My friends and I are so looking forward to the Pie Class in Charleston. 49 years of friendship and cooking together since college …. we cannot wait to make a pie together with you.
I’m looking forward to meeting all of you, too.
Hi Kate so sorry you had to experience a fall and no one stopping to help. I cannot imagine people not helping. It would be a better world if everyone would help each other. Love your blog and someday hope to meet you in person. Happy Holidays.
Kate, I am so sorry for that whole episode, and your injury especially. And to add insult to injury (literally), Seattle was a less welcoming place. Bah-humbug! Therein lies the additional heartbreak. I love Seattle like an old friend, but this old friend struck gold and left me in the dust to build new towers, crowd out the old gang, and basically turn up his nose at those who knew him when. So nowadays, I head over to Tacoma instead (an easier choice from mid-Sound Vashon Island). While its official title is The City of Destiny, my moniker for T-Town is, “Like Seattle in 1985.” And that my dear friend is a compliment. Speedy recovery, big slice of pie love, and well wishes to you and yours. Tom (and Buddy)
So true Tom. My big city is soon to become Victoria, BC, and like Tacoma for you, it’s much easier for me to get it. Do you recall Emmett Watson’s columns about “Lesser Seattle”?
I promise, Kate! I will never leave a pie helplessly sitting on the pavement. I will help you up too!
I’m so sorry this happened, Kate. The way you turned this unfortunate situation into a story of good will is a true reminder for this season. Perhaps if they did consider you just another homeless…then now we know how they feel on a daily basis. Thank you for sharing your poignant message. Virtual hugs for healing are in the air.
Oh my goodness, Kate! I can’t believe nobody stopped to help you and make sure you were okay. How sad – I’m hoping it was because they were so very busy and didn’t realize that you had hurt yourself, but even so – it only takes a minute to stop and help. I hope your injuries don’t linger – the neck thing especially has me worried. Do you get regular massages? They can be a real help with that kind of thing… and a good thing to do for yourself – you deserve a little pampering.
Kate,
I am so very, very sorry to hear about your fall….grateful nothing was broken or sprained….and most distressed to hear no one stopped to help….that is unacceptable and inexcusable. I fell a month ago – flat on my face with no warning- in a restaurant gift shop in Mobile, Al that had a wrought iron leg of a display out in the aisle, but invisible to customers. I was immediately surrounded by people, not just employees of the restaurant, but regular customers, trying to help me up, asking if I was ok, and what could they do. So, don’t lose heart, there are still many, many people in this world not only willing, but wanting to help! I l second Deborah’s idea of writing an op-ed piece for the Seattle Times, but only if you think that is something you would like to do. I love your book and your posts – your kind and loving personality comes through the words. I hope one day to be able to come to one of your demonstrations or classes.
Kate, it’s hard to imagine no one stopped to help you. That is indeed a sad commentary on our society today. Thank you for reminding us to be alert to the unexpected needs of others. I hope your hurts are healing quickly.
Oh my,
Big city life! My daddy would come down from Heaven and give a proper scolding if I ever, ever passed by anyone in distress. I am glad to hear that you didn’t suffer any serious injuries. My you be blessed during this Christmas tide.
I missed this post, but came here after reading your new one from today. I don’t comment much, but this got me so absolutely furious… how can people KEEP WALKING?
how can NO ONE stop to help you? It is just WRONG. Plain wrong.
I feel so bad for you, I can visualize the whole thing, the pain, the frustration, and of course the anger too.
I am so sorry this happened to you on such an important day!
Kate-I’m so sorry this happened to you, and am glad you are alright. Just keep being your kind, thoughtful, pie-giving self.
That was a painful day in more ways than one. I hope you feel better soon.
So true. I’m feeling much better each day.
I am sorry people were not more helpful to you in your time of need. I think we are all a little scared to do things these days for fear of offending someone. However…that being said, I would have helped you and I wish someone else would have, too. Hope you are healing up some and don’t think too badly of Seattle. It isn’t as “friendly” as it used to be. I’m 64 so I remember in the 1970’s going downtown BY MYSELF and walking on First Avenue to the Pike Place Market, with no fear of being accosted. No way would I do that now. Please take care of yourself and I love your pie book! I’ve had it for a year at least and get good ideas from it all the time! This Christmas I’m going to make a blueberry pie! Happy Holidays to you and I’m looking forward to your next cookbook!