Relying on the Kindness of Strangers

Last week, I spent about five days walking around with bandaged, slinged-up left arm, courtesy of carpal tunnel surgery. I'm a righty, so I thought I'd be in the clear, but it's amazing how quickly you realize you truly do rely on your non-dominant hand. Like when you go to tie your sneakers. Or reach into your purse and grab your wallet to pay for groceries. Or simply shop for groceries -- those carts don't exactly steer themselves. I could drive, thankfully, but still am having trouble turning on the headlights or closing the door without awkwardly reaching across with my right, stitch-free hand.

As I walked around town looking generally pathetic with my hand wrapped in a giant cloud of gauze, I was pleasantly surprised at how quick strangers were to help me. Not only help -- everyone had a story of their own. A not-insignificant number of people recalled their own carpal tunnel surgery (including a physician who had both of his hands operated on at the same time!). One woman who helped me fish my L card from my wallet made me nearly lose my lunch when she told me about breaking her radius and ulna at summer camp 10 years ago. One man relived a horrific-sounding compound fracture suffered during a football game. But nasty injures aside, my faith in humanity was bumped up a notch as I realized people really were up to the task of helping their fellow (wo)man bumble along.

A list of day-to-day activities completed with the help of total strangers:

• Tying my shoes


• Putting my hair in a ponytail


• Hooking my bra (one particularly kind stranger in my gym locker room)


• Cutting my salad in a restaurant


• Putting on my jacket


• Adjusting the leg press in my gym


• Snapping my purse shut


• Opening my umbrella

To all those Good Samaritans out there, thank you for making a semi-difficult time far easier. I only hope you're still around when I get the right side done.

Comments

[intelliwoman]

Please tell me where you live

Several years ago I had a broken leg and got knocked out of the way for seats on public transportation, cursed at because I was a little slow walking on the street, purposely hit by a shopping cart in the supermarket because the woman thought my cast was in the way at a busy deli department.......

[Arithrianos]

All activities i have ever participated in have been completed with the help of all sentient beings of the three times and ten directions, but i know what you mean. People are basicaly good, kind and helpful unless they percieve you as an "other". In my tradition this is the basic condition, this basic goodness, and it is sometimes covered over with concepts like tribe or nationality or skin color, but absent those, the vast majority of people will gladly help a stranger. I'm glad you have gained some trust in that.