Nov 22 2008
Our Friendly City
Last night I sprained my ankle. I slipped on a flashlight at the bottom of the stairs.
This event, while unfortunate, would not usually be newsworthy.
At most, I could complain about the difficulty of getting around on crutches in the winter. Or I could talk about how being injured helped me realize what life is like for people with reduced mobility.
But this column is about neither of those things. This column is about the kindness of the people of Cortland.
When I traveled to Convenient Care to have my ankle looked at this afternoon I was expecting a long wait, disinterested staff and a rushed, assembly-line-type appointment. I did wait a while (The entire trip took about 90 minutes), but the staff made every effort to make me comfortable during that time. They offered ice, a wheelchair, even Ibuprofen to ease the pain. I recieved a thorough checkup, x-rays, advice from both the doctor and nurse and my ankle was wrapped and braced.
The front desk staff even let my husband (Dave) take the wheelchair out of the building to bring me to the car.
At Sugar and Spice Restaurant, were we ate after the appointment, my Dave and I were met with concern over how far we parked from the door. “You could have parked right up here,” a customer said. “That would have been a lot easier for you.” On the way out, Dave picked me up to carry me to the car. As I rode across the parking lot in his arms, a scene played out that I was not expecting.
In most cities we would have been stared at or ignored. But here, we were helped. There was so much demand to open my car door that the volunteers had to race to get there first. The friendly man who held my door smiled as he waited patiently for me to get inside. Then he closed the door gently, making sure not to jar my leg.
Even at Walmart, not known for individual attention, I was met with an unusual amount of concern and helpfulness. As I stood in the entryway waiting for Dave to park the car, a greeter approached me and asked if he could assist me in borrowing an electric wheelchair. While I declined, preferring to have Dave push me in a regular wheelchair, I deeply appreciated the thoughfulness of his offer.
In the aisles we were not met with looks that said “I bet you’re faking” or “How dare you take up so much space.” We weren’t met with odd looks at all. Those who did not notice our presence quickly apologized and stepped out of the way.
When Dave and I decided to move to Central New York we were often asked our motivation. Many friends and family members were confused at our reason. We didn’t move for good jobs or a fabulous house (although we have both those things). We moved to Cortland because it is friendly.
We may not live in an industry or entertainment mecca, but we do live in a place where people care. They care about eachother and they care about the community. If I didn’t know that before, I learned it today.
I’m glad I live in Cortland, and I’m proud to call this friendly place home.
-CJC
