Yesterday, my Mom and I had to do some errands. We went to two places and it proved to be quite stressful for me to be out and about. I wanted to write a blog post about my experiences yesterday but I was too tired to do so once I got home. I wanted to give my story the attention it deserves so I waited until today.
I needed to go to the Secretary of State to get a license plate for an accessible van that was given to me. After I did that, I needed to go to the medical supply store to get new compression socks. My Mom had gone to the Secretary of State during Covid and explained how things would move very quickly based on the appointments. I made this appointment to get a license plate three months ago. I did not receive the title in time so I had to reschedule and my appointment. It was yesterday at 2:40 in the afternoon.
I made my appointment for the Livonia Super Secretary of State. We showed up a little earlier then my appointment and I only saw a couple people go into the office. There is a Baskin Robbins in the strip mall where the Secretary of State is and my Mom went and got us some ice cream to eat in the van before my appointment. We finished in time to go in to the office for my appointment.
There was a little bit of a problem getting into the door and that was a reminder that the world-at-large does not really make concessions for people in wheelchairs. They don’t mind cutting people in motorized chairs off when they are trying to enter a doorway and all! I always seem to learn that too late! My Mom explained to me how appointments work at the Secretary of State, how it worked for her. I understood what was going to happen and she told me there was six people in the office when she went.
This is what I saw once I entered the Secretary of State’s office:
I didn’t take this picture once we entered the building, I took it after I met my angel in the Amazon shirt! Once my Mom and I entered the office, I was shocked at all of the people in there and there was a guy walking toward us. He had just talked to the guard there and he told us that they were running 45 minutes behind. My Mom looked at me and told me that we wouldn’t get compression socks because we would be waiting for a long time until our appointment. He told my Mom to talk to the guard and tell him that I have a medical condition and I need to stick to my appointment time.
She walked over to the guard who was about 30 feet away. She came back to me and said the guard was polite but there was nothing he could do. He said that yesterday was the first day the office was open to the public. The disabled station was closed. That fact kind of upset me! Apparently, disabled people do NOT need to go to the Secretary of State during a pandemic! My Mom told me that we just needed to wait, have patience, and that we should pray.
Then my angel in the Amazon shirt asked my Mom what he said and then asked me my name. He then addressed the room. He called for their attention and told them in a loud voice that, “My friend, Jennifer, has a medical condition and needs to be seen immediately. Her appointment time was four minutes ago. Would anyone have a problem if she goes to the front of the line?” The room remained silent and then he beckoned for me and my Mom come to the front of the line. We both cried as we went to the front of the line.
We needed to step out of line so I could talk to my insurance company before I got the plate from the woman. She told us just to stand aside and get the information she needed and then come back to her window. We actually went and used the disabled station to make the call. It was here where I took the picture because I could not believe that I was just about finished with my transaction and all of these people were still waiting!
I didn’t get that angel’s name and he reminded me of my friend, Joe, in stature and he had brown eyes. Once we were finished with our business, my Mom found that angel and slipped him $20 which I he tried to refuse but she just told him to get coffee, turned around, and we left.
We were able to make it to the medical supply store that was in West Bloomfield in time to order compression socks. They will be delivered to my house. It floored me that this man took it upon himself to make it easier for me. It really is reassuring to know that there STILL are good people in the world! I wonder if I will ever see my angel in the Amazon shirt again but I know that I will NEVER forget him!