Check out my suh-weet ride......

Lest I forget humility……

I had the opportunity to escort my 89 year old grandmother to her podiatry appointment today. I naively thought it would be just like any other drs appt – sit in the lobby and wait until Grandma is done and then take her back home. I actually got to go back to see the doctor with her. Geduldig is his name (yes, I am daring you to repeat that just two times!) I never thought I was a foot person. Apparently I am. And they make me want to hurl. I had to keep telling myself to look away. Everyone in that waiting room was wearing sandals (except my poor dear, sweet Grandma – bless her heart) and it was like an ugly convention or something! I mean, I am sorry, but I am pretty sure you too, would be feeling the exact same way if you were in my shoes (which ironically enough were close-toed!) Anyway, I sat there with my Grandma while the Dr did his thing (trying to look away and pretend the doctor wasn’t actually removing dead skin from calluses) wondering who on earth wants to become a podiatrist? I mean, really? At one point the dr glanced down at my shoes and I was suddenly very self-consciously grateful that I was wearing “full-coverage” shoes.

After the podiatrist we stopped by the grocery store to pick up a few items. That was in itself a new eye-opening experience for me! Just when I was beginning to feel wise with age, life throws a new one at me! My grandmother got into her little scooter and started driving around the store (I was a little envious, I am lazy enough to wish I could ride one of those around!) I felt very conspicuous! It really wasn’t that bad and I was just settling into the whole routine (I followed behind lest I get run over, lol!) I realized a new dilemma as the “checkout/bagger” guy placed my grandmothers bagged groceries back into the basket at the front of her scooter. Was she going to drive it out to the car? How would we get it back? I told her I could carry the bags, but she said no, she’d just drive them out to the car. Upon reflection, I am extremely grateful for her handicap tag, because it made the distance that less far, and meant less maneuvering through traffic. Anyway, Grandma told me I could return the scooter for her. WOW! What a blessing. In a matter of fifteen feet and two of the longest minutes of my life, I experienced fear, regret, humiliation, disbelief, awkwardness and I even giggled a little. I have never received so many angry, strange, confused, friendly, awkward-moment looks in all my life! I had to cross the street going nearly 1 whole mile an hour (I think that was how fast it was) all while a car (impatiently) waited for me to cross. (Seriously, the driver totally revved the engine as it swerved around me!) The lady who worked there (who was returning a basket) gave me the dirtiest look, and I guiltily apologized profusely to the several very kind ladies I nearly ran over getting back into the store. Then some man, who was probably close to my age, had a rather awkward look on his face – he was either constipated or extremely confused by the image of a seemingly healthy 20-something-ish woman riding a scooter meant for either extremely large or extremely old people! I spent most of my time “driving”, wishing I had a big sign saying that I was returning this scooter for my handicapped 89 year old grandmother who was waiting for me in the car. AND ALL THIS TOOK PLACE IN ABOUT TWO MINUTES. It will haunt me for the rest of my life!



p.s. This might very well top Emily’s story about the policeman who asked her where the parents of her children were, hahahahaha!