I spoke up for someone this morning, I hope in a good way. Road Scholar had sent me a thank you note for pushing a woman in the group in her wheelchair at the museums, and it was not myself but another woman with the same first name who did it. So I called and left a message that I hoped they would write another note to the right woman, because I felt she'd gone above and beyond the call of duty and that the leader should have asked each of us to push for an hour so no one would be burdened with the care of this person, who was supposed to be be able to walk and was difficult to boot. I felt offended that the leader couldn't distinguish the two women with the same first name in a group of sixteen. So not only was I appalled for the woman who should have received a thank you, and felt invisible to the leader.
This woman in the wheel chair did upset me from the very first moment she sat down with my friend and I and proceeded to be rude and critical at every juncture. I was polite with her each and every time, but she seemed a bully. Then to discover that she expected to be pushed around in a wheelchair at museums meant she needed help that she had not prearranged for. She might have brought a companion, informed Road Scholar ahead of time (maybe she did) and made a general request to all of us. I did push a bit the first day and carefully opened doors for her throughout, if I was around, but she ended up isolating the woman who took on the task, and I'm pretty sure she went where she wished, and ordered the other woman about. Yes, I know, that woman should have spoken up, but I would have waited for rescuing from the leader and I'm afraid she might have been the caretaker type, who gets sucked in easily. Again, her problem. But I see it ultimately as a failure of the leader.
I really hope I'm wrong and the other woman with my same first name was happy to be of service and enjoyed the company of the woman. I'm afraid I would have been tempted to push her into the bushes!
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