hi mark,
So so sorry about your stoke and i greatly admire you going to the market and trying to keep going! but i have to say i have met some of the meanest and nosiest people in the market!! ... 'the stare-ers', 'the comment-ers', 'the question ask-ers'. it seems being disabled and/or using a cane and brace somehow is an open season sign for rudeness.
and yes that woman was an angel .... to you .... and a lesson teacher to those ignorant kids. God works in mysterious ways!! a good dose of validation can make you feel soooo good though!
fondly, Joan