“Real Kindness seeks no return”

I had a short and fitful sleep last night after cleaning up a bathroom full of exploded red hair dye. Uggh teenagers! I still had to wake early to get Haley, Morgan and three of their friends to the Capitol Ex parade where they were participating in support of Greater Edmonton Junior Roller Derby. Haley was awake first. She complained that her throat was a bit sore and at nine years old she had discovered on Google several possible reasons for it. She even came across a sore throat blog which recommended a good doctor but she was sad to find out he was in Boston.  She said it was behind her uvula and suspected it might be due too singing  too much.

Haley was very excited to participate in the Parade but became increasingly stand offish and clingy downtown.  Fifteen minutes before the parade was about to begin she was in back of our organizers jeep, pale, crying, freezing and complaining about stomach pain and sore throat.  I was alarmed by her demeanor and ghostly appearance and decided immediately to get her to a clinic, leaving league parents and coaches in charge of the other three girls I had brought downtown for the festivities.

All the  surrounding streets were blocked off so I was unable to use my vehicle and found that the nearest clinic was 16 city blocks away. A Northlands volunteer overhead my situation and immediately stepped up offering to drive us there on a golf cart. Haley was scared initially of the cart but was in no condition to consider the alternative. She was very upset and freezing,  even though it was warm outside.

The kind volunteer named Carol (Zimmerman) covered Haleys legs up with her coat and trekked us through the maze that is downtown during a parade. She maneuvered us through parking lots, side walks, busy streets and through parts of the parade finally and gratefully reaching the Medi-Centre. The kind lady offered to wait and did so even when  the clock ticked away, and the expectation of a quick visit faded away. Haley was diagnosed with Step and was very anxious to get home to bed. I was anxious to get back to the other girls. The pharmacist was a train wreck. I can’t even begin to explain the headache she gave me.

Though it all the stranger continued her promise to wait for us even though she had a couple of hours invested with people she had just met.

Carol reminded me that there is goodness,  kindness and decency in the world. People that will selflessly help others with no hope or promise of personal gain.

When I got home I looked up the number  for the Shoppers Drug Mart Pharmacy  location downtown.  Despite the grief I had, a kind woman named Maria stepped in and saved the day. I wanted to thank her. Just as I was dialing I got an incoming call and believe it or not it was Maria. As I was calling to thank her she was calling to apologize for my troubles. What an ironic twist.

Today my faith in humanity was restored.  A superhero driving a golf cart showed love and compassion to us, complete strangers.

I gave Carol a thank you card with a link to my blog. I hope that if she reads this she understands the depth of my sincere appreciation.