M is for Miriam

Last Wednesday I experienced some adrenalin fueled excitement while walking Tucker.  We took a little different path that day which took us on the outer loop and had only walked a bit over one mile when we spotted friend Joanne and a lady lying on the grass.  We stopped and Joanne told me that the lady, Deborah, had fallen off her bicycle and hit her head on the road (NO HELMET).  Joanne was holding her dog, Kendall, and Deborah's dog, Emma.  Deborah said she was feeling dizzy but she didn't want us to call EMS.  Finally, Joanne was able to convince Deborah to call a friend.  It was going to take the friend a while to get to us so I went to pull my car around just in case we needed to transport her and I had water and a blanket in there.  Deborah could not shake the dizziness which she told me came after the fall.  I got a quilt out of the car and put it down and she laid back on it--it was a coldish day with temps in the 40s.  We were still trying to get her to let us call EMS when another car pulled up and the lady inside asked if everyone was ok.  When I told her that Deborah had fallen off her bike and hit her head on the road (did I mention NO HELMET) she told us she was a nurse (read GIFT FROM ABOVE; DIVINE INTERVENTION;etc.).

Her name was Miriam and she was just about the sweetest, kindest person I've ever come into contact with in my life.  This wonderful angel of mercy was driving down the main road to go run the bridge and ..."just happened to look over and I thought I saw a person lying there."  So this completely-unselfish-cares-about-others-over-herself-wonderful-nurse-lady turned her car around and came through just to make sure.  JUST TO MAKE SURE...  Wow.  Miriam sprang into action asking all the right questions, taking Deborah's vitals, getting another blanket out to cover Deborah, and so on.  Miriam is the one who got Deborah to let me call 911 (my very first time EVER doing that) this way:  "You really should let us call emergency services because, if you have a concussion, you need to know that.  But you could also have a bleeder."  That's when Deborah decided that calling 911 might not be such a bad idea and Miriam asked me to make the call and I did and IT WAS MY VERY FIRST TIME EVER CALLING 911.

The fire truck was the first on the scene and three of the cutest firemen got out to....ummm...well, after I finished drooling over them I saw that they were talking with Miriam and Deborah and doing their emergency services stuff that they do.  It was decided that Deborah should be transported to the hospital after all so an ambulance was called.  Once Deborah was strapped onto the stretcher (do they still call them stretchers?  Or are they gurneys? Whatever they are, they pretty dang cool!).  Deborah's friend Monica had arrived and secured Emma and was going to follow the ambulance to the hospital, take Emma home and return to the hospital.  And then....it was over.

All that adrenaline rushing around and suddenly, everything was over.  Just like that.  But here's the main point to the story- Miriam.  Miriam who didn't have to look; who didn't have to turn around and check; who gave up her own agenda without hesitation; who kept a positive, uplifting attitude the entire time... I'm not sure if it's the fact that she's a nurse or the fact that she's a truly good and giving person or a combination of the two.  But I do know that she is one of those people who can turn a day completely around for the good just by being there.  So, today, M is for Miriam!  Three cheers for Miriam:  Hip, hip hooray!  Hip, hip, hooray! Hip, hip, hooray!

I saw Joanne yesterday but neither of us has an update on Deborah yet.  She hasn't been out on her bike--hopefully she's been busy trying on bike helmets!  

This is the 13th day of the A-Z Blog Challenge for the month of April. And this thing is getting harder instead of easier...thankfully, we're halfway there!  Just click the badge on my sidebar if you want to check it out!   

AND NOW it's time for the FRIDAY HOPS!!!  I'm linking up with Java's Follow Friday 40 and Over at Never Growing Old  

and  Hilary's Follow Friday Four Fill-In at Feeling Beachie!  

1. Despite the fact that I should know better, I still always snack on something at night.  Even though it's something I'm allowed to have on my new ASS off regimen, I really shouldn't be consuming anything after 8:00 pm.  I do know that I do this in order to stay awake because, if I go to sleep too early, I will wake up around 3:00 am and stay awake and that makes for a grumpy empty nester. 

2. I EAT when I am worried. And when I'm sad/angry/happy...But I'm getting it all under control now.  Mostly.  

3. I always forget where I put things that I want to use.  I can find anything that I don't need- things that really should be thrown out or given away or put in a yard sale.  But, let me put something away that I'm saving to use when I need it--like those darn hand gardening tools and the spin class gel seat that I used once (because it didn't help my behind AT ALL for that class...plus, you'd think that with all my natural padding back there I wouldn't need it anyway)---and now want to send it to Breezy's SIL who needs one.  Yeah, can't find those darn things ANYWHERE.

4. My life is the best!  It's not extravagant or elegant rather, it's basic, simple, cozy.  We love and laugh and spend time together; we garden and talk and play games. We are all still very close even though the nest is empty.  We have what we need and most of what we want (our needs and wants are simple too). Hubs is a great guy; our girls are wonderful daughters; Tucker is the best dog EVER... Oh sure, we have our disagreements (read: I get mad).  I get to stay home and blog take care of all things homey and volunteer at the local elementary school.  Some people would certainly find my life boring but, all things considered, I wouldn't change one thing.