Dear Sir,
Last Monday I went shopping at Wal-mart to buy a large box of chocolates for my kind and generous Dutch friend’s birthday. I found what I wanted but, unfortunately, the rather heavy box was on the upper shelf. Leaning on my cane, standing on tiptoes, I reached for it but it came down on my forehead next to my hairline.
There was a deep gash which was bleeding profusely. Two American ladies who were standing close by rushed over with a kleenex to cover the wound and guide me to a chair outside the shopping area. They then alerted the employees of Wal-mart to get help. I was in a daze, nauseated, dizzy and shaking. In no time two security guards appeared: a man with a first-aid box and a woman who cleaned the wound, treated and then bandaged it. I was given water and an English-speaking security guard (who later told me that he was born in Arizona) said that he would do the shopping for me, as I had still three items I wanted to purchase.
He also checked-out my shopping for me while I sat on a chair.
The guard then helped me walk to my car, put the stuff in the trunk and waited until I was sitting safely inside. He firmly refused to take a propina. After sitting a while in my car to get my bearings, I slowly drove home to Ajijic. I did not dare to take the Carretera, but used instead the back roads through San Antonio and La Floresta to 16 de Septiembre in Ajijic.
When I arrived home and got out of the car to open the trunk, a neighbor from Canada appeared and offered to carry my groceries to the house. I did not even have to ask him.
When I sat down in my favored chair, closed my eyes and let the events of the last hour and a half go by, I realized how kind people are. It occurred to me that this story has to do with kindness and appreciation involving five nationalities: Mexican, American, Canadian, Dutch and German. (I am a naturalized American from Germany.) I feel so blessed living in this wonderful corner of the world where kindness, especially to the elderly, prevails.
Laura Goeglein