I want to share something that happened on the weekend, but what I really want to share is not about what happened, but about how “we” (the generic we) are operating in society and how ‘effed’ up the world is right now.

The very short story is that I tripped in my condo and fell into the glass end table. After doing my own vitals check (did I break any teeth, am I bleeding from my mouth, did my glasses break), I had to figure out how to get up from the position I was in. It was then that I realized I was bleeding from my head. I got up and called my mother and then 911.

It took about 20 minutes for EMS to arrive at my condo. Two amazing first responders arrived and starting doing their assessment of my injury. About five minutes later, my mother arrived at the condo. She called and was asking if they had arrived because she didn’t see the ambulance in the driveway. I said to them, “where did you park”, to which they said at the back of the building. (yes, it was a Seinfeld episode in the making).

Fast forward to walking out of the building with the responders to the ambulance. I was able to walk out of the building holding a compress on my head. The concierge advised the responders that they could exit the parking lot from the entry (it is one way) he has lifted the gate for them. (I had no idea how they were parked, I need to add).

We exit the building and there is a woman standing in the parking lot and she yelled to the responders, “no one can get through with you parked like this”. Seriously lady, what is wrong with you?! I looked at her and said, “Someone had an emergency, they don’t really give a shit that you can’t get through”. She immediately backed the F up and said, ” Of course, I totally understand that”. Right.

The last paragraph was the point of this point. What is wrong with humanity? Had I come out of the building on the stretcher and not walking out on my own, would she have opened her fat effing mouth like a crazy person, or would she have had the decency to let the responders do what they need to do, to take care of us.

One final anecdotal piece of the story. When my mother walked into the condo, she looked at one of the responders, Daniel and said, “I’ve met you before”. He joked, I hoped it was a good meeting. She replied it was, you helped my husband once in our condo. I have said it many times since my dad passed away, I am so very grateful for first responders.

Please know that I am okay. Stiches and a sore body, but I am good. Very grateful to have a hybrid work environment where I can stay home and still be working effectively.

If you see a first responder, say thank you to them.