Kindness

I had a great time surprising everyone at Christmas, and a ton of fun while sis was here, but those stories will come later. For now, just a quick note about today's adventure.
It was my (second) first day of school, and I was late. I ran all the way across the icy/snowy parking lot, icy/snowy sidewalk, driveway, and when I finally make it to the door I decide to trip over a metal plate and fall hard on my knee on a metal grate. My friend and I started laughing, and ran into the classroom just in time. It was about 20 minutes into class that I realized I had torn my jeans, and about 40 minutes into class that I realized my jeans were absorbing a fair amount of blood right below the sore spot on my knee. I went to clean it up at break, and my first thought when I looked at it was 'that might need stitches'. Then I got grossed out at the thought of cleaning it up myself so I went to the school nurse. Yes, I go to a small school, and they have a nurse just like elementary school. Except the nurse decided not to be there today. I went to the reception desk to ask when she would be back, and after looking at my torn and bloody pants Crystal (the receptionist) called someone to come take a look. We apparently have some ex-firemen/military guys on campus (no need for prison work release program jokes here...). He grabbed the first aid kit and took me into a room with an examination table. Crystal came with us since neither guy spoke English. She was very kind and helpful, filled out paperwork for me (I had to give them my age--first time since my birthday that I said that number out loud) and kept me distracted while they cleaned me up (I decided I liked them though, one of them said I could only be 23). They decided I would need stitches, so they called the ambulance. Crystal told me what I would need for the insurance, and told me I could take a bus or catch a taxi when I was done. She gave me her # to call if I needed a taxi.
Three paramedics came, only they were the 'frail French' type. Made it very awkward when they put me on a wheelchair 'dolly' and the little guy had to wheel me out to the ambulance. They were joking about taking me to the butcher, cutting off my leg, and silly things like that.
After the Xrays they took me to the doctor where he numbed my knee and gave me 9 stitches. 4 in one cut and 5 in the other. I watched him do one and that was enough. eww. Then he told me I could get dressed. Only he didn't leave the room--which wasn't a surprise from my previous medical visit where I had to have my chest xrayed and they expected me to just go topless in the process. So I went to pull on my pants, and my toes went right through the tear in the jeans. Yes, I was dancing around the room in my underwear trying to untangle my foot while the doctor was there. Beautiful picture (eye roll and a chuckle). Once I got my care-instructions and prescriptions I set off to find the bus or a taxi.
The doc took me to a phone first, so I called Crystal and asked her to call a taxi for me. She said she would give the driver my name. I went outside to wait for the taxi, and some guy pulled up a few minutes later and waived me over. I looked around to be sure it was me he wanted since he didn't have a taxi sign, and then went over to the car. It was the same guy that had helped out before at the school. He drove his own car over to pick me up. Highly awkward, since he doesn't speak english and my french is absolutely miniscule, but we survived. I bought him a coffee when we got back to school as a thank-you.
Then I went to my 2nd class where I learned that one of my guy friends that I talked to before I left thought the blood on my jeans was because I got my period....apparently he skipped anatomy class. He and two other friends offered to fill my prescrips for me after their last class so I wouldn't have to walk to the pharmacy.
When I got home I had a slip in my mailbox that I had a package from home. Alina and her two girls sent me an array of gifts, including a homemade puzzle with pics from the time we all went to SeaWorld. Perfect surprise to end a crazy day!
Thank you Crystal, guy who's name I can't remember, Laura, Shubham, JC, Poupon, Alina, Amanda, and Rachel!