So, yet again, I have been left to wonder what kind of bad Karma vibes I am sending out into the world. Coming on the heels of my hospital misadventure, I had yet another emergency this week. The one coming less than a week after the other was a bit much.
Monday, I went to a late afternoon movie downtown and met Christopher there. He’s the friend who took me to the hospital last week. As the movie let out at about 7:00, we went back to the garage. He got off the elevator on his floor and I continued up to mine. I got my keys out as the door opened. Out of nowhere, my right hand went dead, like it does sometimes and I dropped my keys down the elevator shaft. I panicked and ran down to where my friend was parked, but he was gone. I ran down the rest of the stairs to the police station, but it was closed for Martin Luther King day. I walked around looking for help for a while until I rememberred the gov’t building next to the garage. The security guards called the elevator company, but they refused to come out, even though it was explained I had no car keys, no apartment keys, I couldn’t get ahold of anyone to come get me, and I had neurological problems.
They still said no because it was not an emergency in their view and it was a holiday. They were rude as can be to me over the phone. For a moment, they agreed to come if I paid them $400, but then took that offer off the table. The security guards gave me until 9:30 to find a ride and suggested that if I didn’t find someone that I go stay at the homeless shelter for the night. I was terrified and have never felt so alone in my life.
Finally, Christopher called me back and told me he was coming to get me but that he had no place for me to sleep. Eventually, he got me something to eat and checked into a hotel at around 10:00. He even insisted on paying for it and it being a really nice one b/c he thought it would be more comfortable for me. As bad as the experience was, I am lucky to have him as my firend and did get a night in a nice hotel out of it. I don’t know what I would have done without him, by the time he got there, I was shaking so hard I couldn’t stop, completely in a large panic attack and my legs were close to collapsing. My right leg was in such bad shape that it is just now getting back to normal pain level today. Meanwhile three security guards sat at their desk watching basketball and trying to get me to leave.
Tuesday morning, he came and got me early so we could be there when they told me to. After a bit more hassle, they finally got them out for me. It took them less than 3 minutes from the time they stopped the elevator to the time I had them in my hands. I will be getting a $200 bill for that. I also was supposed to have to pay $50 to get my car out of the garage for parking overnight, but the lady at the gate felt sorry for me and let me go.
That’s the basics of it. I’m not sure I conveyed just how horrible it was, but that will do for now. After it was over, I thoguht about how much it upset me and why and two things came to mind. While I have long been aware of my health problems, this left me feeling like a gimp or cripple in a way that I have not before. Also, it bothers me that the elevator company was able to be as shitty as they were to me because there really isn’t anything I can do about it. They have the right to decide whether or not to send a technician and it’s not like I can get people to boycot their product or that it matters if I do. They have no reason to give a shit if I ride their elevators or not. Like with my medical stuff, they have me cornered. I may be wrong and just looking at it the wrong way, but I believe I am powerless here.
