Tonight, I went to see a play by, and full with, women I consider fierce.
En route, a car cut me off. I turned my bright lights on him and I drove right behind him. At the next stop light, I pulled up beside him. He was angry, and I gave him the bird as he seemed to shout profanities at me.
I rolled down my window and said, "Really? You're mad at me when YOU cut me off?!" He retorted, "YES!" And then threw what I think was his coffee grande (with cream) in my face!
It covered my face, my car, and my steering wheel. Thankfully, it was cold. I didn't know what to do but I was angry and tired and not feeling 100%, so I followed behind him with my bright lights on.
I called 911 to report an assault by a taxi driver. A very nice and calm operator answered. She told me not to follow him since I could get hurt. I asked her what the procedure was, what would happen. She told me to give her the license plate number and type of car, and they would follow up.
Something in me re-thought the whole thing. I told the 911 operator that I changed my mind. I did not want the police involved after all. "I am fine," I told her before hanging up.
The car turned down an alley quickly, trying to lose me, but I followed persistently. I had no plan. The car pulled over to the right, a youngish man got out of his car. He didn't look so mean or scary actually -- more sad, really. I sensed I didn't have to worry and I wasn't afraid.
I pulled over to the left side ahead of him and got out of my car. I shouted at him, "Really?! You are going to throw your coffee on me?" He tried to reason with me as he was approaching.
"Stay back," I yelled out. "I won't hurt you," he replied. I could tell that he meant it. I started to sob. He was walking toward me, kindly.
"Please don't cry," he said. "I should not have thrown my ice coffee on you. You flipped me off and that made me angry. This is my second job today, I am just delivering pizzas -- that's what I do. I am in a rush, like everyone else."
"This is not who I am. I am not this guy," he added.
"I believe you," I said. "And, I am not someone who flips people off usually. I am sorry," I say through my tears.
"It has been a hard day. I am not a bad guy," he says. "I am not a bad woman. I am sorry, too. This is not my way," I say. "It is not my way either," he says.
"Please wait here," he says as he goes back to his car to get a towel. He also brought a bottle of water. "Please drink," he says, "It will make you feel better." Then, he proceeded to clean my jacket and my car.
"This is not who I am," he repeats. "I have a son, I am working two jobs, I am just trying to do my best. I am not this person you think I am."
"I am not this person either," I say. As if to start over, I ask, "My name is Mia. What is your name?" "Mohammed." "I am sorry this happened, Mohammed." "Me too," he says.
We both hugged, apologizing to each other. These are turbulent times for our world. "I don't want to add to the darkness," I tell him. "Me too," he says.
We hugged again. Both crying. "Keep your son safe," I say. "Thank you. You stay safe too."
One last time, we both apologized, hugged, shook hands and parted ways.
En route, a car cut me off. I turned my bright lights on him and I drove right behind him. At the next stop light, I pulled up beside him. He was angry, and I gave him the bird as he seemed to shout profanities at me.
I rolled down my window and said, "Really? You're mad at me when YOU cut me off?!" He retorted, "YES!" And then threw what I think was his coffee grande (with cream) in my face!
It covered my face, my car, and my steering wheel. Thankfully, it was cold. I didn't know what to do but I was angry and tired and not feeling 100%, so I followed behind him with my bright lights on.
I called 911 to report an assault by a taxi driver. A very nice and calm operator answered. She told me not to follow him since I could get hurt. I asked her what the procedure was, what would happen. She told me to give her the license plate number and type of car, and they would follow up.
Something in me re-thought the whole thing. I told the 911 operator that I changed my mind. I did not want the police involved after all. "I am fine," I told her before hanging up.
The car turned down an alley quickly, trying to lose me, but I followed persistently. I had no plan. The car pulled over to the right, a youngish man got out of his car. He didn't look so mean or scary actually -- more sad, really. I sensed I didn't have to worry and I wasn't afraid.
I pulled over to the left side ahead of him and got out of my car. I shouted at him, "Really?! You are going to throw your coffee on me?" He tried to reason with me as he was approaching.
"Stay back," I yelled out. "I won't hurt you," he replied. I could tell that he meant it. I started to sob. He was walking toward me, kindly.
"Please don't cry," he said. "I should not have thrown my ice coffee on you. You flipped me off and that made me angry. This is my second job today, I am just delivering pizzas -- that's what I do. I am in a rush, like everyone else."
"This is not who I am. I am not this guy," he added.
"I believe you," I said. "And, I am not someone who flips people off usually. I am sorry," I say through my tears.
"It has been a hard day. I am not a bad guy," he says. "I am not a bad woman. I am sorry, too. This is not my way," I say. "It is not my way either," he says.
"Please wait here," he says as he goes back to his car to get a towel. He also brought a bottle of water. "Please drink," he says, "It will make you feel better." Then, he proceeded to clean my jacket and my car.
"This is not who I am," he repeats. "I have a son, I am working two jobs, I am just trying to do my best. I am not this person you think I am."
"I am not this person either," I say. As if to start over, I ask, "My name is Mia. What is your name?" "Mohammed." "I am sorry this happened, Mohammed." "Me too," he says.
We both hugged, apologizing to each other. These are turbulent times for our world. "I don't want to add to the darkness," I tell him. "Me too," he says.
We hugged again. Both crying. "Keep your son safe," I say. "Thank you. You stay safe too."
One last time, we both apologized, hugged, shook hands and parted ways.
2529 Reads
- Posted by miatagano
- Nov 11, 2017
- Comments (16)
Readers Comments
smilinghearts wrote: That 400,000 year old primal brain is always the first with a fight or flight response. Luckily, we have a pre-frontal cortex to add reason and humanity. This could have been another senseless killing in the US. Bless you both! Smiling heart â¤ï¸
sandra wrote: Mia, although your post included the reason the young man was upset, you did not mention why you were also feeling upset and exasperated from the beginning. I suspect you'd also had a bad day. My prayers that both of you know you were blessed that your issues were resolved peacefully.
scully wrote: Woah..quite the 360 turn of events. Sorry about the coffee in the face, and glad you both felt compassion for each other.
healingtree wrote: Admire your openness and honesty, and am sorry the situation happened at all. Anger can get out of hand, in any heart And anger attracts anger. What a beautiful way to see the turn of the event from destructive to constructive. A risky venture all around, but the result was calm and kindness and that is what matters.
leoladyc728 wrote: so glad it all had such a positive outcome
AndiCas wrote: Glad it turned from an aggressive to peaceful experience Mia.
Mish wrote: You are a strong & beautiful spirit, Mia. You inspire me. â¤ï¸
pluto178 wrote: I am going to have to tell you that your naughty the outcome was good in the end but it could have been very different and were would his children or yours be if you ended up in jail..... learn to turn the other cheek...... because you were lucky this time. X
mindyjourney wrote: Thank you for sharing with us and posting this inspirational story with us, my friend.
Kixx wrote: Oh, wow! I wonder how many of us have felt like doing this. I loved your story and i truly believed your action healed people for miles around, mia. Thank you so much for sharing this.
