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Quiet Heroes
A day late and a dollar short, I belatedly must express a gratitude uncommon to everyday and ordinary pleasure at being alive, being healthy, being aware of the plenitude of life’s riches.
Mine is a profound gratitude to the expertise, professionalism and emotional support given to me from our local Sonoita/Elgin Fire Dept’s EMTs who found me doubled over on the ground behind the hay barn in surprising pain and approaching shock.
The team’s competence and care went into action, my pain was subdued, the assessment made clear, and the approach of a medivac helicopter all completed within what felt like minutes. This was January 19.
Following emergency surgery, hospitalization, acute in-patient rehab and home care from which I’m recovering and living independently once again, my gratitude has not abated. Nor has my humility in the face of those first responders whose response to my feeble “Thank you” while in their care was “Just doing our job.” I fall on the word “just.” No, far more than “just,” as though mechanical, order-following, didactically trained performance was their claim to correct behavior! These people gave me a reassuring and comforting sense of caring, compassion, and personal investment in my condition.
So, with humility and gratitude, again I wish to thank, but make public my deepest appreciation to our local EMTs. We are fortunate to have them among us.
Additionally, I would be remiss if I didn’t include all the kind friends and big-hearted neighbors who so readily offered to help caretake my animals (and me) while I had “gone flat.” What gifts they are to me.
Susan Shields
Elgin, AZ
Bicycle Helmets
In my short two years of living in the beautiful town of Patagonia, I have observed several adults riding bicycles without helmets. They are usually very courteous and respectful of cars and people walking around the town.
Though I know helmets are not required, there is always a chance of accident and injury—mainly to the head region. Now, I’ll admit that I’m often as hard-headed about certain issues as the next person, but I’ll bet my head is not as hard as most of the roads in our region, paved or not. And yours is not either.
It takes very little speed on a bicycle to create enough momentum to produce a very serious injury to your head. And injuries can occur for so many reasons (rocks, bumps, potholes, pedestrians, cars, water, wind, distractions, etc.) that wearing a helmet seems like a no-brainer, which is what you could be, unfortunately, if you crash on your bike.
Second, you are not riding your bicycle in a vacuum. If you get injured, many other people, including your family, may become inadvertently entwined with your life. Bystanders, health workers, pedestrians, and the like may come to your aid, in one form or another. So, the cost to society as well as to yourself and your family can be a lot.
A helmet greatly reduces the probability of a serious injury. And life, as well as bike riding, often comes down to probabilities.
Finally, and to me, most importantly, you are being observed. Sure other adults may be looking at your tanned legs, your snazzy bicycle, or your lustrous hair blowing in the breeze, but you are also being noticed by children. And even if you don’t see them, they often see you. If only one child sees you riding your bike without a helmet, she may ask her parents why she has to wear a helmet. And all of us parents know how good kids are at asking tough questions.
But we are a community and what we do as individuals often directly or indirectly affects others in the area. It’s often up to adults to lead by example. One great example that I’ve also observed are the many bicycle riders who come to our community. Invariably, they wear helmets. I’m sure their heads are no softer than yours.
So, I’m suggesting, not demanding or scolding, that you think seriously about riding your bike with a helmet. If you save just one other life, a child’s or your own, then you have done a wonderful deed for the community of Patagonia. And we all thank you!
Joe Ciofalo
Patagonia