Saturday, December 4, 2021

Run Me Down?

 As I was sitting in the electric cart, loading things in the back of the Rogue, I heard a man say, "Can I help you with that?" Seeing a man behind me, I said, "No, I have it all now." I put in the last two bags as he stood silently about a foot from my back. 

First of all, it scared me when he stood behind me. Was he planning to snatch my crossbody purse? What? He said nothing. Most people comment on the weather, how crowded the store and parking lot are right now, how they are so glad there are electric carts. AND, they don't stand so close behind me! 

I never approach anyone from behind when I want a cart. I think it is just polite with all that happens these days. 

I got off the cart as he got on. THEN, he slammed the cart into me, sort of hesitated and ran into me much harder. I was screaming in pain. I was hurting soooo. He hit my hand which was immediately evident. Then, it started swelling. Last night, two fingers have some sort of internal injury.  He also ran into my hip in the front. 

I yelled at him and he gave me a whispery, low-key, "I'm sorry." It was as though he only said it because he thought it was necessary. Well, that made me scream at him. He said, "I was trying to turn around." Still, this made me furious! 

Tommy said he did not hear me screaming while I was being pushed backwards three feet. He saw I was okay. ??? What qualifies as okay? I could barely walk. He did not even roll down a window to hear what was happening. 

I would have been apologizing profusely instead of giving a barely audible apology that did not sound sincere. He just sat there while I whimpered and then screamed at him.

I was barely able to stay on my feet. Thankfully, I did not fall. Have you ever had someone so rude to hurt you in public?

22 comments:

  1. I am so sorry that happened to you. If he wanted the cart he should have approached to the side and in your vision line, he should have said I would like that cart when you are done. I often approach ladies with small children, about 10 feet away and say I will take your cart when you are done. They always appreciate it as no young mother should have to walk away from their children to put a cart away.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Texas,
      I never approach people from behind when I want their electric cart! Never, ever! I have found that since I have been disabled that people approach me and stand behind me to talk with me to help me. One day, I said to a woman who came to help me find something, "I cannot see you. Can you come around to the front." She said, "I can see you. What do you want?" I am mostly invisible to most people.

      I ask people if I can have their cart when they are through with it. But, I am always in their line of sight.

      Delete
  2. It is sad don't you think that people are so unaware of others that they cause undo stress if they would only make themselves known. That they just want to help you get an item that is out of your reach. That you need to be SEEN to be comfortable, you are not invisible, they are, they do not understand. Most people do not get it until they are in that position. It is a honor to be able to help someone but we must realize that we need to do it in a manner that is comfortable to the person we want to help. Look, think, then act to help.

    ReplyDelete
  3. He had no right approaching a women in a parking lot from behind. Then to injure you on top of scaring you.
    What was he thinking?
    This makes me so mad!!!
    In this day and age it is a stupid and inconsiderate thing to do a handicapped lady.
    I've had the wits frightened out of me
    At ATM machines,mall parking lots and in my own driveway!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. savannah,
      And, what if I had a gun and shot him because I felt threatened. I don't go to ATMs but I have had bad experiences at UAB and, yes, in my yard.

      Delete
  4. Oh my word, how horrible! That man is not right in the head given the way he approached you and how he bashed into you without a care. I'm so sorry and I hope and pray you will recover without any lasting injuries. Reading about your pain and your screaming brought back horrible memories of the accident I wrote about before at the end of September. I still have some PTSD over it. I hope you don't go through that. Hugs. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joyful,
      Let's put it this way, I will be forever watchful and leery of anyone who asks for my electric cart. I am surprised that my scream as he was pushing me along backwards did not attract attention, causing someone to come to me.

      Delete
  5. I dont think anything like that has ever happened to me. I was once walking down a ramp with a very recalcitrant trolley and really struggling and a man grabbed the front of the trolley. He supported it's weight and guided it as well. I was confused at first and grateful in the end.

    Your incident sounds very strange, the whispered apology is very interesting. What on earth was in his head?

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    Replies
    1. kylie,
      Fortunately, people have helped me or offered to help when I struggled.

      I am not sure what was in his head. Yes, the whispererd dispassionate apology was strange.

      Delete
  6. I think that he was up to something no-good and then changed his mind. As a user of an electric cart, he must have been aware of the problem of people approaching from behind, and he should have been more skilled at using it and would not have run into you, "I was trying to turn around",baloney, he should have been experienced at doing that. He was really an A-hole. Thank goodness he didn't cause you to fall down.

    I remember the first time I was out after recovering from my first knee surgery I was just using a cane and was on my way to the regular grocery carts, which work pretty good as a walker for me and give me a bit more stability than just a cane. Just before I got to the cart corral, some big b**** (and I don't mean the dog kind), shoulder plowed me. She came so close to knocking me down. She was a big, young, heavy yet muscular woman, too bad I was too surprised and shook up, and then chicken, to throw my metal cane at the back of her head. She went out of her way to shoulder bash me like that, because then she had to move way back into the aisle to walk with her friend. The cashier saw it happen and was on her way over to me as she was asking if I was ok, I hadn't fallen, Thank God, so I told her I was fine, thanks. I actually kind of fell forward but was close enough to the cart corral that I caught myself with them. They all know me at that store and are very nice. Meanwhile my husband was way ahead of me and not even aware anything happened. Probably a good thing, or there would have been more problems.
    We really need eyes in the back of our heads for extra safety when we go into stores or parking lots thee days.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. susie,
      That was awful! She was probably hoping you would fall as a fun thing for her to do and watch! I only fell once when I had knee surgery and that was because of the pain pill I took. I think maybe he was getting the walker for his mother or someone else. It seems he muttered that. Thanks for that story.

      Delete
  7. Oh my goodness, I am sorry that happened. What is wrong with people today? Seriously, can't believe someone didn't come to your aid.
    How awful. I hope you aren't injured too seriously. Take care and hugs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheryl,
      I was disappointed that Tommy took absolutely no notice, not even rolling down a window to see what was happening. There is still something wrong with my hand and fingers, swollen and pain.

      Delete
  8. OMG that's horrible! I can't believe that jackass rammed you twice! How are your injuries feeling today?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sue,
      I was shocked he rammed me twice. He seemed to think the fact he was trying to turn around was all the excuse he needed. Pardon me if I stood in your way with a whole parking lot for you to use. My hand hurts and finger are read and tingly.

      Delete
  9. Oh wow, that sounds horrible. That man is either a malicious menace to society or he shouldn't be driving the damn cart anyway. I hope you feel better soon!

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    Replies
    1. Treaders,
      It was horrible! You are correct, he should not have been driving the cart at all. Thanks.

      Delete
  10. I think you should have waited on him to come out, followed him to the car he was in and gotten his license plate number and filed some kind of charges on him. What a (as the kids say) friggen jerk! Or maybe told the store manager (in case you did file charges). Those carts are very heavy & dangerous.
    I’m still mad! That is just terrible.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. jpark22,
      I thought about all this and dismissed it as I struggled to get to the car and get inside. I am upset still.

      Delete

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