Truckin’ Along…
Two minutes…that was the difference between being on time to the Cancer Center and being 20 minutes behind….and it was all because of a monster truck that took a wrong turn. It was actually directed onto the little street that leads to the parking garage at the Cancer Center. It had no business going there, but the driver was young, and didn’t have a clue where he was supposed to deliver his load….so he turned and immediately got stuck at the dead-end street. The problem was most every car backed up behind this big rig had an appointment inside the building. It was a busy ‘treatment day’ today.
We were all stuck. I mean it was textbook gridlock like you’ve never seen.
Of course, there were two drivers who thought they could create their own lane of traffic and magically get around this mess. That added to the scene, especially when an ambulance pulled out ready to roll, but instead was headlight to headlight with these over-thinkers. So there we all were; stuck and stuck some more!!!
I couldn’t just sit there, so I jumped out of my car, ran up to the truck driver and strongly suggested he slowly back-up and turn his cab to pull into a near by side lane, while at the same time I asked the lead car to slowly put his car into reverse and the rest of us would also back up in sync….
When I heard the truck’s brakes release, it was like a symphony of air…back he came while the rest of us did the back-up ballet until the truck’s cab had room to turn. Good old fashioned “working together” did the trick. The truck found its new parking spot; my lane of cars slowly moved into the garage and cancer world began to move again.
I got to the elevator and met the couple who had been in the lead car of stuck patients. The wife, in a wheelchair, was so upset because they had moved heaven and earth to be on time for her treatment this morning and wound-up 20 minutes late because of this crazy situation.
It was all I could do to calm her down, assuring her, treatment would go on as scheduled. This should have been her only concern today; getting treatment.
No one should have to build in time for a truck and a wrong turn and gridlock at a Cancer Center…..no one.
November 15, 2012 @ 7:13 am
I have not been able to log on since the day of the storm. I have, or should I say had, a beautiful home right on the Bay two blocks from the beach in Long Beach New York.. We were hit pretty bad here…………a major disaster in this small community.,….. followed by another storm a few days later……….and, to add insult to injury, we had a gas shortage. I had to wait on line six hours for gas ! Hundreds of thousands of dollars of damage to my home. More than half of this community condemned by FEMA……….mandatory evacuation. We have the National Guard and the Red Cross helping out……….Most of us are currently homeless and staying with family or friends. Many of us have just had our power turned on, however, we have no heat or hot water. I’m currently staying with my niece……..making trips back and forth to Long Beach to deal with FEMA and my insurance company. I’m more fortunate than lots of people here because my house was not condemned. I will be able to have it repaired and hopefully return in the near future and I’m so very thankful for that. I know there is newer news, however, please say a prayer for all the residents of Long Beach New York. I’m grateful sandy has thus far spared the lives of loved ones and they still have roofs over their heads to work on salvaging what is left and rebuilding. Pray for the ones who are still along our barrier island and along our coastlines that are suffering. A long road ahead to full recovery but we will be better and stronger. God Bless everyone here at OC……………lifting
November 15, 2012 @ 12:46 pm
Oh Sasha..I’m so very sorry to hear about your home. I”m so very glad to hear you and your family made it through this storm. I will think good thoughts and “repairing” prayers for you…I know what a wonderful community you live in and it will be restored but it will take many months. Remember, you’ve been through worse storms in your life and have survived because of your strength….this will be the same.
Stand tall Sasha…and know we are all “lifting” you..
Laurie
November 14, 2012 @ 5:09 pm
I had to have a chuckle at the vision your post brought to mind but it shows you what a team effort can accomplish. My heart just melted for the older couple in the elevator…you were placed there just for them. You really are an angel Laurie.
November 14, 2012 @ 2:59 pm
You took charge when others would probably still be in their cars. Good for you. In a messy situation, you got rid of the mess and everyone’s life was better. Good for you.
November 13, 2012 @ 6:48 pm
but you did good!