A Good Samaritan A Helping Hand

On our morning walk today, as we started heading back, our conversation turned to a brief discussion of people helping others.  The Golden Rule.  We headed west on 5th Avenue North, passing Beach Drive.  When we come this way, we usually make a right on Bay Street, or maybe 1st Street North.  Today we decided to go one block further to 2nd Street North and head back up that way.  After going one block, this woman, driving through the intersection, pleaded with us to help her.  She was crying and asked if we knew how she could get to Saint Anthony's Hospital.  She was disoriented and in pain.  Fortunately, Dave was the most level headed and displayed what it means to be a Good Samaritan.

We told her that if she made a right at the next intersection and headed one block, it would bring her to 5th Ave North and that would bring her to the hospital.  Dave could see how much she was hurting as she told us she had broken her knee a short while back, that she was new to St. Pete, her husband was also in St. Anthony's and she already had had a small accident looking for the hospital.  (I later noticed the passenger side view mirror was broken and hanging, not sure if it was from earlier today.)

David asked her, "would you like us to help you?  Would you like us to drive you there?"  Crying a little harder, she said yes.  So, we cleared off the back seat and helped her move.  She was using a cane.  You could see how much pain she was in as she moved slowly.  Once in and secure, Dave drove and I got in the front passenger seat.  She looked to be somewhere in her 60s.  When we pulled into the emergency entrance, there was a 'valet' there to get a wheelchair for her and park her car.  We went in with her.  Dave helped her get out her license (from Georgia) and her insurance cards.  Once she was settled into the intake process, we headed out front.  Dave had given Kevin a call to come and pick us up.

While it was fortuitous that we got to put our words into action, it gave us pause to think of the "coincidences" that led to this scene playing out.  We were happy that we were where we were when someone needed help.  It makes one think of family and friends and even ourselves, should we be in a similar situation, needing help and feeling disoriented and not knowing what to do.  Doing unto others sure makes you feel good!
Put a little love in your heart!  (Thank you Jackie DeShannon!)