simonbaker
Chef Extraordinaire
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2011
- Messages
- 16,492
I helped a lady with a cane take care of her shopping cart at the grocery store.
I helped a lady with a cane take care of her shopping cart at the grocery store.
I helped a lady with a walker carry her groceries to her car...she wanted to tip me! I told her that my mom uses a walker and I would hope that someone would help her carry things.
And they probably don't have a clue how much that meant to you. Or maybe they do, and that is what they remember about that day--that they could still stop and help s/one else.CWS4322, your story reminded me of an act of kindness done for me. My ex and I were stopped on a dirt road, in the dark, trying to make the headlights work on a 1964 or '66 GMC step van (an old mail truck). I didn't even have hazard lights. I don't think they had been invented when that truck was built.
A family stopped and helped me get he headlights working. We asked where they were headed. They were headed to the in-laws to stay the night, because their house had just burned down!
That is so sad that people do that--that they don't step up and open the door, offer to help (wheelchairs aren't always the easiest to get out of the car--neither are walkers). Reminds me of when I took my mom shopping. Some of the stores at the local mall have wheelchairs BUT you can't take the wheelchairs out of the stores. I whizzed her around the store getting the stuff she wanted, but she also wanted to get her watch fixed. The jewelry store is about 5-6 stores away. I figured I'd just wheel her on over there. Oh no, couldn't take the store's wheelchair out into the mall. The dirty looks I got when I told the store clerk (in no uncertain terms) that (a) I was taking the wheelchair out of the store and into the mall, and (b) that if the person didn't like it, I'd call an attorney and have the store charged for violating the ADA Guidelines and (c) I'd bring it back after I brought my mom back to the car since she'd spent $xx in the store, and smiling pretty--I hoped that would be okay--I'd have the wheelchair back within 20 minutes. It probably would have been easier to put her in a grocery cart than it was to get that wheelchair out of the store and into the mall...funny that I could take the wheelchair out to the car to get her--it is so much easier to take her shopping if she's in a chair than having her trundle along with her walker--she gets very tired, but I couldn't take it out into the mall. My DH says I'm very good at being b&tchy in these situations...I was so mad I was almost in tears--the mall doesn't have wheelchairs, just individual stores do. And, I was really ticked about the "use it in our store only" policy and no wheelchairs available in the mall, but there are strollers and carts.As a person who uses a cane and has a father who uses a walker inside and a wheelchair outside, I thank you both from the bottom of my heart. Since I have been going to the Y, it has just been amazing how many young guys hold the door open for me, whether I am alone with my cane or pushing Dad's chair. There have been other times where people have stood watching us struggle to get the chair through, and looking disgusted because we are slowing them down.
And they probably don't have a clue how much that meant to you. Or maybe they do, and that is what they remember about that day--that they could still stop and help s/one else.
Since I had to use a wheel chair, now a walker I've been treated with such kindness from all sorts of people. Opening doors for us, Where we have breakfast after diaylisis the young lady who always seats us noticed my shoe had come untied and wanted to tie it for me. She is so sweet you just have to love her. We have become close with many of the kidney people you can't help it. we all look out for each other much like our DC family. How lucky I am to have such giving friends.
kadesma
Wow, Princess, that is a really great idea! Do you mind if I borrow it? I know a group that it would be very appropriate for!