gcvmom
Here we go again!
Today was the only day we could use our Disney passes during the holiday break, so we decided to go to see the decorations they put up for the Smallworld ride and all the other festive displays.
As we exited the parking structure this morning and were coming down the escalator, I noticed a tall man with a pale face and very odd expression down below. He was looking up at the structure like he was searching for someone. I didn't think anything of it, until we got down on the ground.
By then, he had turned around and walked toward the shuttles and we were approaching him. Then I could hear that he was crying and very distraught. My family went on ahead of me as I slowed to check him out and see if I could help. He had dropped a large plastic bottle that had ice in it and what looked like water. The lid was on the ground and it was laying on its side spilling out, while he was standing with his face in his hands sobbing.
He was crying, "My family! My family! I've lost my family! I don't know where they are!"
I approached him and asked him if he dropped his water and he cried yes, so I bent down to pick it up. The container lid was between his feet, and not wanting to get too close, I asked him if he could pick up the lid. He said he couldn't, still sobbing, so I told him to sit down on the concrete planter that was right behind him, which he did. Then I tried to get him to pick up the lid, but his crying just became worse and he was reaching out to me. Another gentleman stopped by this time to see if he could help and he patted the guy on the arm telling him to calm down and that he was okay.
I asked the guy if he was there with his family or if he was by himself. He was just so upset and he kept saying he didn't know where they were and that he'd lost them. Then suddenly, as if a switch had flipped, his voice changed and he said in a deadpan voice, "No, they're not here." Then he immediately stood up and started to walk back towards the parking structure, but he stopped again and was wiping the tears from his eyes and trying to catch his breath and sort of regain his composure.
Meanwhile, Disneyland staff, about 5 of them, were just standing about 25 yards away watching the whole thing. I walked toward them and said the man really could use some assistance and that he seemed a bit disoriented. They mumbled something about possibly calling security and kept their distance from the man who was slowly moving toward the parking structure.
I really felt bad for the guy. He was just so upset -- his face was very contorted and I could see his was in a lot of emotional pain. What was so unsettling was how quickly he shifted mood and then walked away, but he was clearly slipping back into that despair I had witnessed.
I don't know what became of him. My kids were a little unnerved by it all. I just explained that he was somebody who probably hadn't taken his medications today and he was feeling really bad about something. Hopefully someone on site got him some help or found whomever he was supposed to be there with.
Not sure why I felt such a connection to this guy. He just seemed so overwhelmed and helpless and I wanted to help. But part of me was very leery about getting too close to him. Perhaps I felt that there, but for the grace of God and modern medicine, go one of my family members.
So that was the start of my day at the Happiest Place On Earth.
As we exited the parking structure this morning and were coming down the escalator, I noticed a tall man with a pale face and very odd expression down below. He was looking up at the structure like he was searching for someone. I didn't think anything of it, until we got down on the ground.
By then, he had turned around and walked toward the shuttles and we were approaching him. Then I could hear that he was crying and very distraught. My family went on ahead of me as I slowed to check him out and see if I could help. He had dropped a large plastic bottle that had ice in it and what looked like water. The lid was on the ground and it was laying on its side spilling out, while he was standing with his face in his hands sobbing.
He was crying, "My family! My family! I've lost my family! I don't know where they are!"
I approached him and asked him if he dropped his water and he cried yes, so I bent down to pick it up. The container lid was between his feet, and not wanting to get too close, I asked him if he could pick up the lid. He said he couldn't, still sobbing, so I told him to sit down on the concrete planter that was right behind him, which he did. Then I tried to get him to pick up the lid, but his crying just became worse and he was reaching out to me. Another gentleman stopped by this time to see if he could help and he patted the guy on the arm telling him to calm down and that he was okay.
I asked the guy if he was there with his family or if he was by himself. He was just so upset and he kept saying he didn't know where they were and that he'd lost them. Then suddenly, as if a switch had flipped, his voice changed and he said in a deadpan voice, "No, they're not here." Then he immediately stood up and started to walk back towards the parking structure, but he stopped again and was wiping the tears from his eyes and trying to catch his breath and sort of regain his composure.
Meanwhile, Disneyland staff, about 5 of them, were just standing about 25 yards away watching the whole thing. I walked toward them and said the man really could use some assistance and that he seemed a bit disoriented. They mumbled something about possibly calling security and kept their distance from the man who was slowly moving toward the parking structure.
I really felt bad for the guy. He was just so upset -- his face was very contorted and I could see his was in a lot of emotional pain. What was so unsettling was how quickly he shifted mood and then walked away, but he was clearly slipping back into that despair I had witnessed.
I don't know what became of him. My kids were a little unnerved by it all. I just explained that he was somebody who probably hadn't taken his medications today and he was feeling really bad about something. Hopefully someone on site got him some help or found whomever he was supposed to be there with.
Not sure why I felt such a connection to this guy. He just seemed so overwhelmed and helpless and I wanted to help. But part of me was very leery about getting too close to him. Perhaps I felt that there, but for the grace of God and modern medicine, go one of my family members.
So that was the start of my day at the Happiest Place On Earth.
