My friend Anna, the Latino Joan of Arc, walking down Madison Avenue, spots a well dressed man on the ground slumped against the side of an apartment building. Mind you it’s the shank of the morning, dozens of commuters flying by, but Anna, true to form, is the only one who stops.
Now in her 50s, raising a son all by herself ironing shirts for the rich, she presently works in a high end gourmet shop charming everyone she meets.
She’s one of the kindest, noblest people I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing.
That said, she kneels by the man who’s all but losing consciousness realizing, he’s had a heart attack. After calling 911, she knows enough to keep him talking, asking in her stilted English, did he have children, grandchildren, what were their names…how old were they?
When the EMS workers come and ask, how did she know to do that, Anna says…
“Law een Order.” (I just love that)
Later on, at the hospital, bribing the guard at reception with cookies, finds out who the man is because she wants to make sure he’s alright.
She walks into his room where he’s awake, tubes everywhere flanked by family and asks, how he is.
“Who the hell are you?” he snaps, telling you he wasn’t exactly Mr. Rogers.
“I find you, on the sidewalk,” Anna says, “I call 911. Just come to see if you are fine.”
“Oh, so you came to collect a reward, is that it?”
Now believe me, the last thing on Anna’s mind is money, so when he bellows…
WHERE’S MY CHECK BOOK…
she runs out the door.
The wife, upset, comes out apologizing for her husband, but Anna stops her and says, “No matter ma’am, as long as he’s okee. God eez’ so good.”
I ask you. 
SB
All I can think of saying is – What an ungrateful, crass, schmuck.
Anna is an angel on earth. I’m glad she is the bigger person in this.
And I hope to hell he realises just how lucky he is to be alive.
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To quote Butch, talking to Sundance: Don’t hold back kid, just tell me straight. 🙂
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You can count on me for that 😉
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Makin a note.
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He he he… no worries. I’m not mean – unless someone else is really mean.
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I know you’re not. I wanted to clock that guy on her behalf. She told the story so cheerfully without any malice. It was really admirable I’ll tell ya.
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Honestly. What a horrid man.
And I am ever so happy that she did not allow his crassness remove a thing from her generosity.
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No, it’s as if she’s made of spiritual Teflon.
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Good for her.
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What a noble story! God bless Anna for her caring and kindness. Thank you for this uplifting account.
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Hi Anne. I wish my altruism ran as pure as Anna’s. Mine has sharper points. She never takes insults nor bad behavior personally. She just prays for the offender. Sigh
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Not the ending I was expecting. If that jerk has a second attack he better hope there’s another Anna around and not someone like himself! I bet his wife does a lot of apologizing for him,
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I just said that to Frank. Also could explain his heart issues. Closed for business. Anna probably saved his life.
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Although ungrateful ass doesn’t describe his actions, I imagine he realizes the ill of his ways now because his wife has straightened him out. Cheers to Anna – a good person who is also a good friend. Cheers to her from me.
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The wife definitely ran interference for him. I’m sure his inappropriateness reared its ugly head before.
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Law een Order . . . I love that too. And I love that life does work this way. That we learn certain things in the most random places, that maybe aren’t random at all in the scheme of things. And Anna, bless her wondrous heart, brings to mind another Angelou quote.
Good done anywhere is good done everywhere.
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I never heard that one. Just love it.
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Anna is a jewel of great price…what a gem. And to think she learned that on Law & Order, my favorite! I believe there are many good samaritans around; we just don’t hear/read about the good things. I feel sad for the guys wife; she’s probably a genius at apologizing…lots of practice. I would hope if that ever happened to me I would be blest w/an angel like Anna. I would also hope that if I even came across someone in trouble I would do my best to help however I could. That’s the way we should all be…kind in every instance. Good for Anna and God bless her! Bravo, Anna!!!
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Favorite line…genius of apologizing. Yes, I’ll bet that’s quite true.
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No good deed goes unpunished. Anna’s a saint
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I’ll say. She’s like the Latino Cavalry riding in. She also is never not smiling. Always makes me shake my head. 🙂
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Wow, I want to be like Anna! I’m going to strive to be more like her… fifty percent of the time 🙂 Hey, I gotta work up to these things!
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Who doesn’t? Me too. My altruism has cracks all through it, but we still press on. Just popped in to see her. She gave me a cup of coffee and a baked sweet potato for lunch. We worship at the altar of Anna. 🙂
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I ❤️ Anna
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I’ll tell her. 🙂
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Do good, always do good.
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“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” —Maya Angelou.
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I like that one!
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Me too. Google her quotes. They are so beautiful.
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Anna is wonderful! The victim not so much.
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Yes, we should send Teddy over to his house to teach him a lesson. Meow
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Jesus! Even Hitler would have probably sent a thank you note.
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That’s so funny. Wonder if this guy had a mustache. Have to ask Anna. 🙂
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