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(JD) · Nov 14, 2010, 03:31 PM

I've just returned from eating lunch at a favorite restaurant of mine.

Shortly after I arrived, a man and his wife hobbled in. They are quite elderly, and I suspect she has beginning Alzheimer's. After they seated, the man began to "walk" her through the menu, and had a very short temper. This attitude would calm a bit and then flare right back up. After a half hour of his back and forth, I noticed that all the patrons in the restaurant also noticed.

The man had begun to cuss her out and raise his voice in anger even more. I went out to the owner and suggested he could do a walk through and keep that table from becoming violent? It seemed surreal to him. I suggested he ask how the meal is etc, to help calm the situation some.

Well, he's a new owner and from another country (UK, AU ?) and all he did was walk directly to that table, ask if the guy needed help and then walked back.

Well, it worked enough for the time I remained anyway. The next 5 minutes the guy was "discussing" why the man would come to the table and who was he??

I wanted so much to "rescue" that woman from that horrible abuse!
I wonder if I can make up some cards of outreach info to secretly slip any abused woman in a situation like that... or if that's beyond what I'm capable of, or responsible for... I'm surprised she hadn't poisoned the guy yet (

sorry, my bad.) He was UNBEARABLE! And if he acts that way in public, maybe he is physically violent to her at home?

If he hadn't calmed down after the owner visit, I would have done something more... maybe not personally gone to the table (though I have intervened in the past... "Hi, I couldn't help but overhear your conversation... or I just wanted to stop by and tell you what a lovely blouse that is.... to, when it's a parent and child, "Oh I just wanted to encourage you as a parent, things can feel so out of control sometimes can't it...") Or maybe I would have left and called the police and let them check the situation out...and maybe save someone's life?

I need a new plan for situations like that.

If you're in one like that, get out. GET OUT NOW! Nothing and no one is worth your own life. It will take some hard work and perseverance to rebuild your life, but you'll have a future.