Tuesday, January 12, 2010

The Shuttle

Mrs. B is probably right around the mother’s age, give or take a year or two. She is even shorter than me and very round. She kind of bounces when she walks, a combination of her weight, age and injuries. She is not very steady in snow and ice.

I’m not sure why she can’t drive (and I didn’t ask) but she recently stopped driving to the station. She has been arriving by cab. She leaves the bus when I do. Yesterday, she asked if she could “cross with” me. I knew this meant she was worried about falling so I made sure she got across. She then goes inside the building across from mine and hails another cab for the last four or five blocks of her journey. I offered her my cell but she is apparently now on a first-name basis with the concierge and he takes care of her each morning.

I think her plan had been to retire this year or maybe last from her job of nearly 30 years but some time in the past five years, her husband got quite ill, ate up their savings, and died. So, she went on working and last year she got laid off. She found another job about six or so month ago, part-time, and several blocks from the once convenient location she’d been at.

She usually isn’t on my evening bus. But just a few minutes before it arrived, she appeared on the corner. She asked if I could take her as far as a bakery on the main drag. When I asked where she was trying to get to, I found that this was only another four or five blocks from home for her.

“No,” I finally said. “But I will take you home.” It really is on my way, sort of, so it seemed silly to leave her on a corner to get another cab. Nope. Not doing that.

So once back at the station, I first got S settled in the back seat behind me and then made sure that Mrs. B didn’t fall on the parking lot and got her into the car. On the way through town, Ladybird hit a patch of ice and we slid through a stop sign. Luckily, I was going slow enough and there weren’t any cars on the corner (though there was one in the intersection and I just knew I was going to hit it). I turned the wheel into the slide and we still slid but the other car passed us safely. I corrected the wheel once out of the slide and continued on. S saw what was happening and gritted her teeth. Mrs. B was blissfully unaware.

Mrs. B’s street was still heavy with snow so we crawled up that way. Getting into her driveway was like scaling Mount Everest. I got her out, safely up the drive and past an icy walk to her back door. On the way out, I slid in her driveway. Once in the car, I began to back out and Ladybird slid, too. I was able to stop just short of a phone pole at the edge of Mrs. B’s drive. Whew!

Let’s just say I was a very happy camper when I got in my own driveway last night.

7 comments:

cd said...

Have always been a fan of everything you write, but the last two posts are great. Sr. Sheila Marie is smiling down on you!

Liz said...

I agree with cd 100 percent! And it's so great to know there's someone like you helping out the Mrs. Bs of the world.

David - www.brighteyedlife.com said...

Hi -

I'm new to blogging in home improvements, and I heard it's important to exchange links with like minded bloggers. I found your blog - it's really great - and seems to be related to mine in home improvement & remodeling - would it be possible to trade links?

My site is about uPVC Conservatories it's at http://upvcconservatory.net - you might be interested in some of the articles I have on there as well. Let me know.

Cheers,
David
homeimpguy(at)gmail.com

Why S? said...

That's too much adventure for one drive. Good thing you have such good karma keeping you safe.

Vicki said...

I agree with cd, these last two posts are good writing. And I'm laughing that Mrs. B was unaware of the slip sliding! haha!

Kate R said...

You make an excellent guardian angel! Glad you made it home safely.

NV said...

Cd—Aw, that’s so sweet. Good to know I still got it on occasion!

Liz – Thank you! I figure I am likely to be a Ms. B someday so hopefully someone will help me. Besides, it’s nice to pay forward some of the many kindnesses I’ve been blessed with already.

Why – My thoughts exactly! I like to confine my drama to books and movies, thank you!

Vicki – Thanks! I really enjoyed doing them. And yes, it was hilarious that she was oblivious to it even though she was in the front seat.

Kate – Thank you! I was VERY glad to get home, too.