Things aren't always as they seem...

Marina and I had the opportunity the other night to go to Reno to watch a DCI (Drum Corp International) performance. On the way home we had to stop at the store to get an item. For whatever reason, I felt it necessary to come all the way in to town and go to the local Safeway instead of something closer like Wal-Mart or Save-Mart. It was about 10:30pm. We drove past the parking lot to Winnie Lane and turned in. It's like making a big U-turn. As we were driving in we slowed down because there was a woman in the middle of the lane. She was weaving when she walked, her pants were all dirty like she had fallen on the street and she had wet herself. As I passed her, Marina made the comment about the lady being drunk. I parked the car and started walking towards this lady. I told Marina that I just have a feeling that this is one of the times that things aren't always as they seem. I called out to the lady and asked "Are you okay?". She stopped and looked at us and said "No, I was just beaten up and raped, I am really confused right now".

I called 911 and Marina chatted with her while I was on the phone. She seemed unable to focus on things except for the accordian folder she had in her hands. She kept trying to hand us her folder and at the same time telling us it was her medical history and what medications she was taking. She also kept saying her name, her social security, her address, and her mother's phone number. She also mentioned (and we could see it) that she had advanced sclerederma (that is a tightening of her skin on her body). She kept putting her poor, twisted hands which were missing parts of the fingers out to us and telling us she was sooo scared that her hands were freezing. I took her hand in mine and tried to gently warm them. She looked at me and said, I want you to know that I am not contagious it is just my disease. I told her I knew that but it would not have mattered anyway. She started to cry.

After a few minutes the police officer came and he took over. Marina and I went into the store when the paramedics showed up. We came out about 10 minutes later and they were still there. The paramedics were trying to get her in the ambulance thingy. Poor Catherine was not budging and was becoming difficult. I looked at her and she had the cornered animal look because there were 4 men standing in a semi-circle trying to coax her and becoming stern with her. I called to her and then stepped forward (I didn't want to surprise the authorities by just walking up because that could be a really bad thing). I took her hands in mine and talked to her and gently pulled her towards the gurney thing they had pulled out for her. Once they got her strapped in and all I knew she was in good hands and Marina and I left.

On the way home Marina shared something with me. She was concerned for Catherine and she was grateful that we had stopped to help. She told me Catherine was trained well. I was confused and asked her what she meant by that comment. Marina commented on the fact that she had all her records with her and Catherine kept repeating her information. I was still confused. So then Marina explained to me that she discovered since working with the mentally challenged children these last two years, they are taught to always carry their medical records and medication or medication information with them. If they are lost or in trouble they are to find someone and tell them their name, address, and a telephone number to call. I didn't have a clue, but Marina knew that we were caring for a mentally challenged woman. Again, how grateful I am that we went that way.

I stopped for a couple of reasons, one is because it was the right thing to do, and two is because I have a huge debt to pay for a good Samaritan who helped my daughter in a time of need. I could not walk away knowing that Shirleen did not walk away or keep driving when she saw some random teenage girl standing on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere (referring to Rebekah's rollover recently). So, does this mean that I have settled my debt and "we're even" now? Not in a million years! After all, aren't we all our brother's keeper?