I went for a short bike ride this afternoon. I’m never happier than on my bicycle under a mild-tempered, afternoon sun.
About ten or fifteen minutes into my ride, I came up to a side street called Robindale. Across the street were two elderly ladies waiting to cross to my side. One looked noticeably younger than the other. She had that stereotypical, Ronald McDonald, flaming, faux, red hair. She also used a walker. The other lady had creamy, light hair that matched her light beige jogging suit. Both hair do’s were cropped short the way little school boys where their hair. (*I often wonder if there is some unspoken rule about aging women and their hair? Is it mandatory to crop my hair above my ears past a certain age?)
While I waited for passing cars to cross the street, I peeked at the ladies through my oversized sunglasses with gaudy, white frames. As if in slow motion, the red-headed lady began toppling forward and veering toward the right. Suddenly, she flipped face-forward over her walker, bashing her head on the metal post of a street sign as she spilled down.
I rushed over to help. Myself and the other lady hoisted the victim back to her feet. A well-dressed, Mexican man pulled over immediately in his irridescent pearl cadillac as well as a very pregnant white woman in her gigantic SUV. Together the three of us fussed over the injured woman.
The man pulled a couple of towels from his backseat. The pregnant woman fetched a bottle of water from her truck. I had a paper towel in my nap sack so I pressed it against the gushing wound on the woman’s forehead. Blood pooled in the creases of her left eye lid. I carefully tried to wipe her eyes out and instructed her to take deep breaths.
With all etiquette out the window, I felt compelled to pet the woman’s shoulder for support. I even patted the man on the back too for a job well done. The three of us helpers didn’t really say much to each other. We all went our separate ways once the lady’s wounds stopped flooding. I never even got their names.
I hope that the woman’s wounds heal comfortably. I also hope the two others who stopped to help reap luck and joy for their good deeds. There truly are kind people in the world. Today reminded me so.
