JB went off to visit a sick friend. I suggested he buy some Ensure and a casserole and take those over. Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie from the deli! He told some self-deprecating stories and cheered them up.
It was a tough morning, as well as dealing with Daisy, and our leaking toilet. More on that when those issues are resolved. So, I suggested we go out to lunch. This is one of our favourite pubs. I had booked a haircut for 1 p.m., hubby hadn't had a proper breakfast in his mission of mercy.
When I arrived home, we took off back into town. There is a new menu, hubby had cauliflower with dip! I had a chicken pesto club, I saved half for today.
I noticed an ambulance outside on the street, they were ordering lunch to go. I excused myself from the table, talked to our server, and asked him to put their food on our bill. It wasn't exactly anonymous, as the server told them. A nice young man and woman, they came to the table and chatted.
They asked why, and I explained that I saw TV reports of all those wonderful men and women at the Ottawa OCTranspo bus crash: Horrific incident in Ottawa. It's difficult work, many people lost limbs, one man had two broken legs, some had to be cut out of the bus, and I wanted to pay it forward.
This pair of paramedics were simply bringing someone home from hospital, but I've spent time in an ambulance, taking my dad to and from his final oncology appointment, where the doctor told him his cancer was terminal. Muskoka to Toronto, a couple of hundred kilometres. They took dad to hospital after he had both delirium and dementia. I've accompanied my friend, paraplegic from spinal stenosis, to a dental appointment from her long-term care home. They are amazing people.
At home, watching tennis, I saw yet another ambulance skoot by, lights flashing, helping another soul. It just felt like the thing to do. Look at how many first responders were involved in the bus crash.
The Good Samaritan stories begin to pour out from Ottawa. A young woman, with Down Syndrome, was sitting in priority seating in the front of the bus. She had to walk past those ejected from the bus, as well as wounded. Another victim took her under her wing. This gave her something to do, they said in the news. A neighbour brought the family dinner. It has a city-wide impact, but the helpers are there to be found.
Today, I am off to provide respite care to my client, again. Deep breath –as I try figure out some funny stories. It is difficult being almost housebound. You have to stop doing the things you liked to do, or had to do, to maintain your family. You lose independence. You lose your friends. This will be a good story to tell her! We can put a positive spin on things.
Have you ever paid it forward? I remember going through a toll and paying for the people behind. Also, a coffee. I bought a meal for a homeless man in a mall parking lot in Ottawa.
