After sitting in a stuffy, warm courtroom, listening to
counsel ask the same questions, “can you be fair and impartial?” and feeling under
the weather, I walked down Mission Street in the steady rain carrying my over the
shoulder bag under my coat, covering my head with my hood. I was feeling cold
and miserable. At one point I began sneezing uncontrollably; my nose was irritated.
A man, in his 40s, from the came from behind and offered, “Are you walking to
BART? I can share my umbrella with you.”
I was touched and slightly embarrassed—I must have looked
like a cat in the rain. “Thank you. My car is not far in a parking lot.”
I tapped him on the
shoulder, “That is very kind. Thank you.”
It was another block and a half before I got to my car. I
thought later I should have taken him up on his generous offer—that by
accepting it, he/I would replicate it.
Sometimes angels are handsome Middle Eastern men with red
umbrellas.
