Day 25 September 2, 2010
Left First, Then Right
by Lyn Carr
As I reached the end of the ramp that led to the parking lot for the Sahara Middle Eastern Restaurant last evening, I noticed a family of six or seven who stood before the stairs to the cars. I noticed them for a number of reasons. The men and boy wore suits and the women dresses, mostly black, I'd crossed paths with them before and a white haired woman who appeared to be the matriarch, hesitated at the descending steps and seemed to be talking to herself.
Of course, wanting to help even though I wasn't asked, I chimed, "There's a ramp over there," and pointed to the ramp I'd winced my way down a minute before. It was just a few cars down. "I use it."
"Left first, then right. Left first and then right. Oh, I'm fine, she said as she glanced at me. Back to her chant, she concentrated, said, "Left first, then right," and she stepped down onto the first stair. Chanting all the way down, "Left first and then right," she navigated the stairs very well and moved on toward a car parked about twenty feet behind me. The entire family waited patiently until she was down, only one young man following close behind her.
As I was opening my car door, one of the gentlemen with the party stopped. "She just had a hip replacement."
"Oh, that's good. She's doing well it seems."
He smiled and nodded.
"Does she do the right first and then left when going up the stairs?"
"Yes, that way she uses both legs and knee muscles."
"Oh, fantastic," I enthused, "I'm having trouble with my knees on stairs at home. I'm going to try that. Thank her for me."
He smiled, nodded and moved on. I turned and watched him walk to his family waiting patiently for the lovely white haired woman as she made her way gingerly in to the car seat.
I was excited all the way home just thinking about the method of using stairs. My left knee has been hurting me every time I walk down the steps of my two staircase condo.
Once I savored the presentation of the hummus take-out I'd purchased, spooned a portion into a small white bowl, topped it with a bit of the fresh cucumber and tomato salad and placed two quarter pita slices on top, I heated the chuck pot roast, potatoes and carrots and spooned them into another larger bowl. Once I squeezed a chilled bottle of water into the tray, I navigated my stairs down to the basement. "Left first. Then, right."
Returning the empty dishes and tray, I chanted, "Right first, then left." It worked. No pain going up or down the stairs.
Another serendipity evening.
M
