I Helped An Elderly Gent Yesterday.

[icyfroth]

In the Supermarked. I was doing some fruit and veg shopping and noticed him struggling to open the produce bag. I've struggled with them before so I wondered if I should help him or would he feel I was being patronised.

As I walked past him I jokingly said, "you have to spit on it"! I always wet my thumb and index finger to open the bags.

We laughed and he went pretendy "ptui ptui" on the bag.

I went around and got some tomatoes and deliberated whether I should get the lemons from USA or limes from Aus.

When I looked up he was still patiently struggling with the bag.

I felt bad then about the flippant spit comment and said "can I help you"? He gave me the bag and I showed him how I lick my thumb and finger and the bag opened straight away! (It's not always that easy).

Anyway we had shared another laugh about it and went about our shopping.

I had to get the fruit and veg guy to help me with mine once.

[izabsmiling]

Allie, just saying that non of us know what other people personally know and have been through and are going through .I often see negative stereotypes for younger people accepted more than those of older people.

edit: It would be good if we were able to share our own experiences .

[bluecat*dancing]

Its nice to hear about the kindness shown to others. There should be more of it.

[izabsmiling]

I agree Bluecat, something I do is look for people at parking meter machines if I have time left on my ticket when I return to my car.I ask them if the time left on mine is any use to them.Both my  ticket and I get some suspicious inspections.

[the_great_she_elephant]

Icy, it was a lovely little story and I don't think for a minute anyone really thought you only posted it to seek attention.

Good deeds don't always have such a happy ending though - I have a "horror" story.

Many years ago I lived in an outer suburb of Perth and there was a certain man, probably in his 60s, who used to shop at our local supermarket .He had only one leg and got around on crutches. One day I was behind him in one of the aisles when he dropped a tin that he had just picked off a shelf. It rolled across the floor and automatically I picked it up and took it back to him. 

As I went to hand it over, he turned on me with a torrent of abuse: How dare I presume to help him? Did I think he was helpless? Put that can back where it had fallen - he didn't need my pity! . I was gobsmacked . I hastily dropped the can and left - and after that I gave him  a VERY wide berth whenever I saw him in the shop.

I've often wondered how he came to lose his leg and whether it was that that turned him into such a bitter, twisted old man.

[izabsmiling]

I've nursed such people TGSE.I really think it has a lot to do with pride and wanting to feel and be seen as not needing help...and not to actually be in need of  help .An attitude that imo is reinforced by 'dole blugger' type attitudes ?

[jimmy*part4]

I like this part....I can see that happening

We laughed and he went pretendy "ptui ptui" on the bag.

How is it everyone missed the most important question?

I went around and got some tomatoes and deliberated whether I should get the lemons from USA or limes from Aus.

Well....whadya get? hmmm?

*psst...ptui onto your fingers...avoids sticking em in your mouth, lol.*

[icyfroth]

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@the_great_she_elephant wrote:

Icy, it was a lovely little story and I don't think for a minute anyone really thought you only posted it to seek attention.

Good deeds don't always have such a happy ending though - I have a "horror" story.

Many years ago I lived in an outer suburb of Perth and there was a certain man, probably in his 60s, who used to shop at our local supermarket .He had only one leg and got around on crutches. One day I was behind him in one of the aisles when he dropped a tin that he had just picked off a shelf. It rolled across the floor and automatically I picked it up and took it back to him. 

As I went to hand it over, he turned on me with a torrent of abuse: How dare I presume to help him? Did I think he was helpless? Put that can back where it had fallen - he didn't need my pity! . I was gobsmacked . I hastily dropped the can and left - and after that I gave him  a VERY wide berth whenever I saw him in the shop.

I've often wondered how he came to lose his leg and whether it was that that turned him into such a bitter, twisted old man.

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I know, she-el, not everyone welcomes help, some feel it's patronising.

Initially I felt a bit hesitant about approaching the man struggling with the bag, and asked first if I could help him.

[cherry*135]

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@bluecat*dancing wrote:

Its nice to hear about the kindness shown to others. There should be more of it.

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It is indeed. Better than the poor me, self absorbed attitudes.

A school where one of my niece's children goes to,  students go on a visit to the local retirement home and while there they play games with the residents. My great-nephew really enjoys going there. Teaches them respect for elderly people.

[icyfroth]

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@*jimmy1717* wrote:

I like this part....I can see that happening

We laughed and he went pretendy "ptui ptui" on the bag.

How is it everyone missed the most important question?

I went around and got some tomatoes and deliberated whether I should get the lemons from USA or limes from Aus.

Well....whadya get? hmmm?

*psst...ptui onto your fingers...avoids sticking em in your mouth, lol.*

---

Lol, Jimmy.

Needless to say I got the Aussie limes.

I get a bit grumpy about importing fruit from overseas when so many of our own orchards were ploughed into the grounds.

[cherry*135]

Imported lemons are ridiculously expensive, local ones are still pricey. I bought a single one for 80c and it went off about 2 days later before I had even used it.