On a cool Tuesday in late November of last year, I dropped the kids off at kinder and care, then dropped my car off at the dealership to be serviced, then hopped on the courtesy bus into the CBD.
(THRILLING OPENING. I’M HOOKED. TELL ME MORE.)
I had booked two client meetings that day, and had sandwiched a lunch between them with online friend and hopefully-soon-to-be-real-life friend Rebecca from Seeing the Lighter Side.
Look at this chick. Totally ready to kick butt!
I got off the courtesy bus on Collins Street. I thanked the bus driver. He smiled and waved, and I walked off for my first meeting.
Except I didn’t walk off. I took a few steps and fell over.
Except I didn’t just fall over. I smashed my knee. My right knee. The bad posterior cruciate ligament knee.
SMASHED.
It was bad. It was so bad that my first thought wasn’t the usual Oh my goodness I can’t believe I just fell over in public hahahahahaha start laughing it’s funny pretend it’s not embarrassing quick now people are looking hahahahahaha. It was MY KNEE MY KNEE HOLY CRAP MY KNEE MY KNEE OW OW OW MY KNEE MY KNEE WAAAAAAH.
A couple walking past immediately rushed to my assistance. “Are you all right?”
I tried to shrug it off and laugh at my lack of coordination, but a sob came out instead. I couldn’t put any weight on my leg and they could see the pain reflected in my face. “Come on. We’ll help you up.”
They carried-slash-dragged me over to a nearby seat and waited while I wiped the tears (and mascara) from my face. I eventually managed to tell them that I’d just hopped off the courtesy bus from the car dealership and should probably just get back on it.
They looked to see that the bus was still there, and ran over to flag the driver. He came over, and the three of them helped me back onto the bus. Then the couple who had helped me left.
THANK YOU NUMBER ONE (AND TWO): Thank you, lovely helpful couple walking by the Regent Theatre last November. The recap above is short, but I took up at least 20 minutes of your day, and you didn’t once glance at your watches or show the slightest bit of annoyance at being inconvenienced. Your concern and assistance for someone whose name you didn’t even know was (and still is) touching.
The bus driver helped me hobble to the backseat of the bus so I could put my leg up. He expressed concern for my torn jeans before I assured him that distressed denim was so hot right now. When a wave of nausea hit me, he shrugged and said to just do whatever needed to be done, and that he’d clean the bus later. He drove so slowly, so carefully, back to the car dealership.
He helped me inside, then went back to the bus to collect my shoes and bag. He asked if there was anyone I could call, or if he could arrange a cab. When I had called my husband to tell him of the (latest) mishap, and knew how long I’d be at the dealership, he continued to check on me over the course of the day.
THANK YOU NUMBER THREE: Thank you, Gary (Garry? Your name tag had one spelling, your business card the other) the courtesy bus driver. You went above and beyond in helping me that day, and I’m extremely grateful. Your primary concerns throughout the whole thing weren’t the bus, the schedule nor getting through your shift, but me, my safety and my comfort. Four months on, I still appreciate it.
At the dealership, the manager/supervisor/first aid person came over to see what was wrong. Despite my insistence that he need not do anything because I hadn’t sustained the injury on the premises, he set to work. He provided anti-bac swabs for the grazes, an ice pack for my knee, and even some brightly coloured bandaids to ensure my kids would think I was cooler than the average unco, Booboo. He helped me elevate the leg, and made sure I was comfortable.
He asked if I was hungry, and when I said that I was fine, he nodded and left. He returned half an hour later with a sandwich, fruit, juice and a chocolate bar from a nearby café. And the dealership’s wifi password.
He continued to check in on me throughout the day, and called the following day to see how I was faring.
THANK YOU NUMBER FOUR: Thank you, manager/supervisor/first aid person whose name escapes me but who had a lovely set of piercing blue eyes and a calming manner. Together with Gary/Garry, you made me feel less embarrassed about the whole thing, and were at pains to assure me I wasn’t a burden. I still feel like an unco idiot, but that’s because I am one, not because you treated me that way!
The moral of the story: injuring your knee sucks. But injuring your knee while surrounded by kind, helpful strangers who only have your comfort and safety in mind sucks much less.
Crutches, on the other hand, still suck.
The return of the dreaded crutches. Le sigh.
Fortunately, they weren’t around for long, and I was back in heels by Christmas. Priorities.
(Oh, and in case you’re wondering, my clients were very understanding about the rescheduled meetings, and Rebecca and I rescheduled AND upgraded our lunch to a night out for dinner and Ghost the Musical!)
When have you benefited from the kindness of strangers? Or badly injured yourself while walking in a straight line on a flat surface?
(You might also like to read The kindness of strangers – part two.)
I’ve had a few unexplained falls lately but you’ve reminded me of almost 18 years ago when I was heavily pregnant with my first and I fell on the way to the bus. Tore my stockings, banged my knee up and not one person offered to give up their seat on the bus.
I shared a story about my daughter tripping on an important night for Worth Casing Wednesday this week, I have no idea where she gets the clumsiness from. I blame her father’s side of the family, they take credit for everything else, including the reason she has dark, wavy hair. Nothing to with me at all. LOL
Oh, you poor thing. I can’t believe no-one coughed up their seat! And hats off to your daughter for knowing her limits that night. There will be more balls and more fun in the future. x
I’m always falling down in public, but luckily, the only thing that’s really been hurt is my pride. I’m sad that you fell over and hurt your (bad) knee, but I’m so pleased you had your own team of guardian angels. In other news, that dinner and musical is quite an upgrade! I like your style!
Thanks Sammie! Yes, we had a great night – it was so lovely of Bec to take me! (She had freebie tix to the premiere.)
How lovely that so many helped you- too often we hear the opposite. It’s nice to know there are good people out there. And Bec is tops!
Yes, she is! Tops!
This puts me faith back in people . There are sons wonderful
People out there and often they are not too hard to find .
Too true – you just have to be ready to find them. Thank you.
I love kindness stories! I’ve been compiling a list to share on my blog – do you mind if I link to this post Em??
I know the feeling when you fall in public – and ouch for your knee! Glad there were some kind people to help you 🙂
Please do! Thanks for asking. Kindness stories are the best.
Ahhh the kindness of strangers. Such a nice thing to hear. Wow that sounds painful though. I’m glad you are on the mend.
Thanks Mandy. Well and truly better. By which I mean my knee is back to pre-fall state, which still isn’t perfect, but will just have to do!
Oh my goodness how painful for you. Thank goodness there were so many kind people around that day to take you under their wing and make sure you were okay. I hope there isn’t any lasting damage to your knee x
Thanks Renee. Nothing new sustained that day, but I already have lasting damage to that knee. It ended my netball career! (‘Career’ used loosely.)
I can only imagine how you felt when your knee gave way – fellow crap knee person here! But it’d lovely to hear how kind and considerate everyone was throughout the course of the experience, as well as the next day too. So thoughtful. Stories like this give me some hope that the world my kids will inhabit may not be as self-centred as it often seems destined to be. Glad to hear you were able to make a return to heels for Xmas – I celebrated that milestone late last month, just shy of 6 months post surgery – it was good to be back!
Oh, I know that my injury (both this one and the worse original injury) are nothing compared to yours. I do not understand how you made it through PB last year! Welcome back to wearing heels! WOOT.
Em
That is really so lovely when you experience the kindness of others. Lots and lots of people are actually very kind, if only we stopped watching the news because all we see is the bad side of the world.
C xoxo
Yes, and the kindness itself wasn’t the only impressive thing. It was how instant it was. No-one had to think about it.
It’s lovely to hear stories of kindness when so often we only hear stories of nastiness and general douchebaggery. Hopefully karma comes around and helps the people out who helped you!
The awful tales on Facebook are exhausting sometimes, aren’t they? The complaints and AARGHs and I want free stuff statuses. I thought I’d send some positive into the world instead.
OUCH!!!!! Such a nice post about the kindness of strangers though.
Falling over as an adult SUCKS. I remember busting up my knee about 12 years ago on the street. Ripped my jeans, busted my sunnies that were in my hand, blood everywhere from my hands and knee. I didn’t do ligament damage though and no crutches required but I did cry. I had no nice strangers around to help either. I was alone.
I would have cried too! Very unfun. It takes over your entire day. Sorry you didn’t have any guardian angels that day.
Oh, Em 🙁 I remember seeing this on FB last year. I love how you’re looking at the positives. Even telling the bus driver that hey, well…distress jeans are so in. Holes from the fall? Even better 🙂 xxx
Ha, yes! I don’t think the fall made any new holes. In fact, if I’d had different pants on, perhaps there would have been less blood because there would have been a layer of protection! But on the flipside: ruined pants.
There really are some amazing people in the world. What Constance has done for Rafiki springs to mind. Love this post. xx
Oh yes, I love that. And thank you. x
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