On a perfect late summer morning, I headed to the glasses store to get my new prescription sunglasses tightened.  (I thought their falling off when I leaned over was not a good idea.)  Anyhow it’s less than a mile, a walk I’ve taken countless times.  But usually without much adventure.

At the park in the next block, I saw a neighbor picking up some debris.  Turns out she’s a Friend of the Park.  We had a pleasant chat.

About a block further along, I was peering into the window of a coffee shop under new ownership.  A lovely young woman, with long black/gray streaked hair was  leaving the shop with her coffee, and held the door for me.  I explained I was just looking, and we walked together for about a block discussing the various permutations of coffee shops in that location.

And then, the drama.  At the next corner, there was a body, lying still, flat on her stomach on the sidewalk.  Long blond hair.  Her pocketbook and a bag she had been carrying were splayed on the sidewalk next to her.  A waiter from the adjacent restaurant and another man were leaning over her.  I asked, “Has anyone called 911?”

The supine body spoke.  “Don’t call 911,” she said. “I’m all right.”

Ten minutes later, my glasses were fixed. I saw that the woman was alone, sitting with her back against a fence.  I kept walking.

Just another exciting morning in the life of an 80-something.