I Wasn't Going to Jump!

@OneOfMany (12150)
United States
March 14, 2018 7:40pm CST
Have you ever had your day ruined by people with the best intentions? Years ago, when I was in college, I liked to get away and position myself at various 'perches' around the town. I would go for the view and to unwind, just to think and watch the day move along from up high. It was very relaxing. In one of my perches, it was a rocky outcropping about 15 feet from the edge of a cliff. I would go there, sit on the rocks and overlook the valley. Down below, was a factory or something, people would come and go, but no one would take notice of me. One day, while I was sitting there, relaxing, I heard a commotion from below. In the parking lot of the factory, a small crowd of people had formed. I heard shouts and they were waving their arms. The crowd continued to grow, and I heard "Don't do it!", and "Don't jump!!". These people thought I was there to kill myself... and were desperately trying to prevent my certain suicide. I tried to wave these people off, and shout back, but my words didn't reach them. Afraid that they'd call the police, I gave up and went away. In the background, I heard them cheering. To them, they had saved the day. To me, they had ruined one of my favorite spots to unwind. I don't think I was able to enjoy that perch from then on. Those people were always on the lookout for my return. I had other spots, but they were much farther away. Have any of you experienced something like this before, when your innocent relaxation was interpreted as something dangerous?
5 people like this
3 responses
@Plethos (13718)
• United States
15 Mar 18
sometimes i like to pretend im Batman and just crouch on top of gargoyles overlooking Gotham and recite my mantra of "I am the night"
2 people like this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
15 Mar 18
That would be a little too close to the edge for me! I still like a margin of safety in case some whacko tries to push me over the edge.
1 person likes this
@Plethos (13718)
• United States
19 Mar 18
@OneOfMany - but what if youre the whacko ?
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
19 Mar 18
@Plethos Then I suppose it's alright!
1 person likes this
@cintol (11261)
• United States
15 Mar 18
Can't say I have ever had anything like that happen to me, at least you let them think they had saved a life that day.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
15 Mar 18
If only I had a hang glider... I would have jumped off and flew over them! They were all cheering. I can imagine they were very happy. It gave them a heroic boost to their day (possibly improving their lives). So probably worth it.
1 person likes this
@cintol (11261)
• United States
15 Mar 18
@OneOfMany haha, that would have been fun to fly over them huh.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
15 Mar 18
@cintol Yeah, but I'm sure the landing would have been awful!
1 person likes this
@Starmaiden (9308)
• Canada
15 Mar 18
Not me personally. This story reminds me of a former classmate of mine. While I was in college the school I went to was on the 15th floor of a building in downtown Vancouver. (Its a very small private school) One of my classmates, a very tall, huge young man would climb out of the window, 15 storeys above street level, and stretch out on the ledge and just relax. Of course, the executive arts director would give him heck for doing it, but it was his way of unwinding before class started. (Thank goodness I'm not his mother! ) :-D
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
15 Mar 18
That wouldn't be something I'd do! I have a fear of unsafe heights, and the 'perches' I had were all very safe with measures in place to ensure my safety. I would have no assurances on the ledge of a building! lol
1 person likes this