Chivalry Isn't Dead

There is a footnote to the previous post, a small story within itself.

After everything and everyone was cleaned up once again, Ron went out in search of some clean clothes for me. Normally we keep extra duds and things on the rig for times such as these (they happen more often than you might think) but on this particular day we had taken a different ambulance and left our main one behind. This rig was not equipped with all the extras because it is not used very frequently, and that fact did not dawn on me until Ron returned and gave me a rather pitiful look. On his arm he carried his meager findings: a patient gown, a clean pair of scrub bottoms he had filched from somewhere that were at least two sizes too big for me and bore the hospital's name stamped on the thigh, and an old grungy turn out coat of Chris's that smelled strongly of smoke and had his name in reflective tape lettered across the back.

Over time I have learned to master my true inclinations, smile, and be gracious instead, which is exactly what I did here. Taking what Ron had found, and being happy to even have that, I went off to change and get the hell out of the smelly things I was currently wearing. When I stepped out of the bathroom in my new attire I looked very much like a kid playing dress-up in her mother's closet. The scrubs were way too big, Chris's turn out coat was even bigger and the gown I had on under the coat and had tucked into the scrub pants made me look a little like an escapee from psych ward. And this outfit was the lesser of the two evils!

Ron took one look at me, frowned, looked up and down the hallway then stepped back into the entryway of a nearby utility room. He tilted his head down and took a whiff of his armpit (as only guys will do) and satisfied with that he reached up and unclipped his badge and name bars. Without a second thought he unbuttoned his good workshirt, tugged it off and handed it to me, leaving him to wear the torn old ratty FIRE t-shirt he'd had on underneath.

Ron didn't blink, and I didn't hesitate to thank him and accept his offer.When I changed and reappeared again I looked and felt a lot more presentable and we left to go grab coffee and a meal while we waited for Gary.

So chivalry is not dead. In fact there are still a few people out there who will indeed give you the shirt right off their back.