I was dropping my Mom off at her house, and I was at an intersection waiting to turn left onto her street when I noticed a man in one of those fully-powered wheelchairs; y'know the one's that really go fast? Anyway, he was not on the sidewalk, but stuck in the gutter. The curb was quite high, and he was coming up to the sewer drainage area. That drainage area really slopes down, and I knew he was going to be completely stuck.
I made my left turn and pulled into the first driveway, hopped out of my car and ran over to the guy in the chair. He was stopped by this time; I think he could see that if he continued he'd be against the sewer grate. He was panicked, and I said "Here, let me help you." He looked at me, carefully stood up from the chair and got onto the sidewalk.
I work out everyday, and lift weights; I consider myself strong, but that chair plus its battery must have weighed 200 or 300 lbs. I could barely budge it. I got the front half of the wheels onto the curb thinking I could leverage it up onto the sidewalk, but that battery in the back of the chair was too heavy for me.
Then this young guy, who was waiting for the bus, came running up and grabbed one side of the chair and I grabbed the other and we lifted it up onto the sidewalk.
The chair owner seemed very concerned with all his groceries which he had hanging on the chair, so I told him to get in and I'd secure all his stuff.
Immediately after he and his stuff were secure, he rode off at warp speed. I thanked the young guy who helped me, and dropped my mom off as planned.
I was kind of glad the chair guy just matter-of-factly rode off without a thank you, because that should be a normal and expected thing; that we help each other when we need it.
Love your show Dr Laura and you have really, really helped me to be a better person, and a good human being.
Laura
