Originally Posted by Doody

Big sigh. Well, maybe I'm more sad than ticked off, but I was sad, then shocked, then mad on my way home from work tonight.

I drive down a main artery in town to and from work. It's probably THE primary street in town that people use, very very busy. So, I'm stopped at one of the major intersections for a red light. Rush hour. And there on the other side of the intersection is a youngish looking Asian man going across the highway in a wheelchair. And not a motorized wheel chair.

He gets to the other side and there is a slight upward incline to get to the sidewalk in either direction. He tried and tried and tried and couldn't get up the incline and would slowly roll back down to the street.

I was totally freaking out. Luckily, I could turn right at the intersection, which I did, parked my car fast, put on the flashers and jumped out of the car. (Opposite side of the highway from him.) So I ran to the stoplight but by this time had a red light. Traffic was whooshing by him and he was watching very carefully and hanging on tight to the wheels.

I waited for a break in the traffic and ran, stopping a few cars that tried to fleet by, and finally made it to the other side. By that time, 2 other WOMEN had pulled their cars over and were getting out of their cars. We helped push him up the hill to the sidewalk.

Meanwhile, I was watching the traffic and remembered I had several men sitting around me when I was watching this poor guy crossing the street. Did ONE MAN stop to help. No. Did they whiz by while we were trying to help him. Yes. GRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

I don't know what his physical problem was, but the poor guy couldn't speak and kinda 'flopped' around a little. ONe of the ladies asked him several times if there was anything else we could do, and I noticed he was struggling trying to talk. He finally gave a thumbs up sign and blurted out THANK YOU. His teeth looked like rotted nubbins, I don't know how else to describe it. Had a little backpack and had gloves on, I assume because it can be difficult on your hands moving the wheels on a wheelchair.

I just gave him a partial hug and said You are very welcome.

And went back to my car.

And then I got really sad. And it made me cry a little, and I am not a crier. Not much anyway. Sit me down at anybody's funeral, and I'll cry ya a river.

I felt helpless to do anything more. And was mad that people didn't rush to help him. There was even a frigging car with 2 men in it watching him trying to get up the damned hill and they were right there next to him at the light!

Then I got mad AND sad wondering why so many people have to suffer so much. It's hot here like everywhere else, and I felt so bad for the guy.

Well, anyway...I'm just so ticked off that more people didn't try to help him and just kept roaring by him.

If you made it through this long post, I'm extremely impressed!