The Old Lady on the Stairs

Yesterday I was at the “health fund” building. [Side-note: In Israel there is basically mandatory health care - socialized medicine- through various health funds. You join one fund, and through them you get doctors, nurses, and reimbursement for various medical procedures. This has its good side-- if you belong to a fund and give birth to a special-needs child, they have to accept him—but sometimes to get top-notch care you have to go private.]
So as I wrote above, I was in the health-fund building. I had gone to their office to receive reimbursement for a medical-supplies expenditure. On the way down the stairs, I noted two people in front of me. One was an elderly lady, navigating the stairs rather slowly, purse in hand. Behind her was a middle-aged woman. The middle-aged woman took a few steps forward, and grasped the arm of the older woman. “Here, let me help you.”
- “No thanks” responded the elderly woman.
- “At least let me take your bag for you.” Insisted the younger woman.

[I would note here that there was a working elevator that could have been used by anyone so desiring….]
Watching this lady who had forcibly invaded the body space of her neighbor on the stairs reminded me vividly about Dave Hingsburger’s numerous posts about hating it when people touched him, his chair, etc. (I doubt that I would have given this too much thought a year ago.) So I piped up:
-“Madam, I think that you should allow her to descend on her own, since that’s what she prefers.”
The old lady looked back at me, in surprise, and smiled. I almost winked back. Instead, I just smiled.
* * * * * * *
Ricki returns from camp late this evening. Tonight there is a “farewell party”, which I will have to waste my time on. But I will probably write about all this only on Sunday, as I have a different post lined up for tomorrow. (And saturday is my day of rest...)