There is a first time for everything. Today was the first time I was let sit.
My usual ride home from work was absent. I asked someone else who lives close if I could bum a ride home. I confirmed it later in the day.
End of the day I closed up shop, packed my crate and sat outside. Beautiful day.
People were leaving school. Are you OK? Do you need a ride? How long do you turn down other offers? What is the grace period to wait for someone who is basically doing you a favor? How late can they be before you catch as catch can and get another ride? Would she have been justified in being angry I had not waited?
Is there an etiquette book for the visually impaired? What are the rules on this sort of thing?
Right before it was time for the administrative offices to close, I called there and they contacted my ride. (Note to self: double-check and make sure you have the cell number of anyone you ride with.) The secretary got back to me. My ride would be right there.
Turns out my ride had forgotten. She had gone 20 minutes home and – to her credit – had turned around and come 20 minutes back to get me. She had been distracted and forgotten.
Part of me wanted to cry. I was frustrated and yes, I was hurt. I felt pretty damn vulnerable and I did not like it!
My ride was apologetic. She was contrite. She basically offered to run me around at whim because she felt so bad. (Might take her up on that! ?)
Sitting here, I am thinking I have two ways of looking at this. I can be hurt and angry and nurse a grudge. Where would that get me? Do I want to burn bridges? Probably not. I am in no position to alienate people.
The alternative is to re-frame (there is that word again) all of it into a positive experience. Half a dozen people stopped and inquired. They were concerned. Every one of them would have given me a lift and for most of them it would have been way out of their way. That is concern for me and that is positive.
So, feeling vulnerable, but not without resources. I can think of at least three or four others who would have dropped everything and come to rescue me. That is pretty good. There are people who have my back.
I guess I have decided. It was not nice but I survived. People care and will help.
Dealing with horse shit? Sometimes, but with all this horse shit, there must be a pony somewhere! ?