I ONCE thought angels came in white robes and halos. But that is a rather naive notion. They may be these unsung heroes, humanitarians, advocates of causes or they simply come in the form of friends, strangers, or even random people inside a cramped train. A recent drastic, and rather embarrassing incident taught me that.
For some unknown reason or reasons, I fainted in the midst of a public space, and inside the moving sky train of all places. You know that feeling when you’re about to fall into oblivion but you’re trying very hard to stay upright because your mind is screaming that you cannot just pass out in a sea of strangers? Well no amount of self-will could stop me from tragically lapsing into a state of semi-unconsciousness.
For some unknown reason or reasons, I fainted in the midst of a public space, and inside the moving sky train of all places. You know that feeling when you’re about to fall into oblivion but you’re trying very hard to stay upright because your mind is screaming that you cannot just pass out in a sea of strangers? Well no amount of self-will could stop me from tragically lapsing into a state of semi-unconsciousness.
I remember a lot of hands some trying to pinch my arms, some rubbing back blood flow into my numb legs, a hand forcing me to drink water, and voices, lots of voices. "Does anybody have chocolates? Clear out the seats to make her lie down! Someone push the emergency lever!" And a voice softly but sternly saying, "Karen, Karen, stay with us." I remember moving my eyeballs towards that voice (someone opened my bag and checked the name on my passport). Then I totally passed out. The next thing I recall was being carried by this big burly guy, being seated in a wheel chair and then being wheeled into the emergency room of the train station.
Two Filipina women came with me; talking to me all along, wheedling what little information they can get from my semi-dazed self. They made the necessary calls, made sure I was okay, until the paramedics came. I was just able to get their names and say my hasty thanks before I was handed over to the ambulance team.
I was still not over the ruckus created by that unanticipated and scary (but at the same time truly humiliating) fainting spell when an unknown number was calling my phone to check up on me. It was that same Filipina who was there all along. I could never stop saying how grateful I was. I was profusely saying my thanks to her when she said, "It is okay. I’m sure you would have done the same thing to anyone." That struck hard. It made me wonder if indeed I would do the very same efforts to a complete stranger. I’m certain I would be very much concerned. But I don’t want to be a hypocrite by saying I would surely go through the whole thing they have done for me.
And now on my "invalid" bed, as I am furiously tapping this little drama of mine down on the keyboard, there are two major things that I would like to point out. Angels do exist, and that I would like to be one. This horrifying personal incident made me see pure, utter goodness in people complete strangers you ride with on the bus and trains every day, these people you bump and race with for a good spot inside the transit and whom you grudgingly loathe sometimes. This is one of the moments I can honestly use the epic line, "faith in humanity restored." We get so caught-up in the breakneck speed of pursuing life that we forget the basic attributes of being human sometimes, or so I thought, but was shamefully reminded that this was not the case. I may have grown cynical by generalizing that the harshness experienced in getting by everyday has caused us to appear uncaring and lacking of empathy towards other human beings. But I have to take back my words. I met angels. Total strangers with unseen halos who wear everyday clothes like you and I do.
This selfless Pinay’s words keep on resonating back, "I’m sure you would have done the same thing." To be honest, I may have not. But that was a wake-up call for me. All of a sudden I want to be better, to do more good, not just for the people I love and care about but even to strangers. We realize some essential things during the most surprising and unexpected circumstances. For the nth time as well, I learned my lessons and got my wake-up call the difficult way.
Two Filipina women came with me; talking to me all along, wheedling what little information they can get from my semi-dazed self. They made the necessary calls, made sure I was okay, until the paramedics came. I was just able to get their names and say my hasty thanks before I was handed over to the ambulance team.
I was still not over the ruckus created by that unanticipated and scary (but at the same time truly humiliating) fainting spell when an unknown number was calling my phone to check up on me. It was that same Filipina who was there all along. I could never stop saying how grateful I was. I was profusely saying my thanks to her when she said, "It is okay. I’m sure you would have done the same thing to anyone." That struck hard. It made me wonder if indeed I would do the very same efforts to a complete stranger. I’m certain I would be very much concerned. But I don’t want to be a hypocrite by saying I would surely go through the whole thing they have done for me.
And now on my "invalid" bed, as I am furiously tapping this little drama of mine down on the keyboard, there are two major things that I would like to point out. Angels do exist, and that I would like to be one. This horrifying personal incident made me see pure, utter goodness in people complete strangers you ride with on the bus and trains every day, these people you bump and race with for a good spot inside the transit and whom you grudgingly loathe sometimes. This is one of the moments I can honestly use the epic line, "faith in humanity restored." We get so caught-up in the breakneck speed of pursuing life that we forget the basic attributes of being human sometimes, or so I thought, but was shamefully reminded that this was not the case. I may have grown cynical by generalizing that the harshness experienced in getting by everyday has caused us to appear uncaring and lacking of empathy towards other human beings. But I have to take back my words. I met angels. Total strangers with unseen halos who wear everyday clothes like you and I do.
This selfless Pinay’s words keep on resonating back, "I’m sure you would have done the same thing." To be honest, I may have not. But that was a wake-up call for me. All of a sudden I want to be better, to do more good, not just for the people I love and care about but even to strangers. We realize some essential things during the most surprising and unexpected circumstances. For the nth time as well, I learned my lessons and got my wake-up call the difficult way.