Excitement

IAman reports:

 Apr 21, 2023 Friday

“YAH,YAH,YAH,YAH …..” comes from a house I cycle past on my way to lunch at New Chinese Cuisine on 21st street in Forest Grove, Oregon. That “YAH, YAH” yelling is LOUD and attention grabbing, a elderly neighbor lady is staring quizzically at the house.   I ebike ride past , then realizing I forgot my pack at the house turn back to retrieve it.   I'm new in the neighborhood,  I don't know if it is a crazy or perhaps… unlikely a person yelling “HELP”,  but the neighbor took notice.  Coming back past the lady is at the house in question and another middle aged male neighbor is scurrying around in and out of the garage.  Something is definitely not right.  I pull in.   The running-guy says the homeowner had the hood of his truck slam down and trapped him by the arm,  and  is now passed out. I am the only one with a phone,  I call 911.  Running-man has tried the hood releases but the stuck crushed arm apparently has created so much tension on the hood release that pulling the long plastic lever just bends it. I try it again,  yep Ford plastic bending.   I run through my ideas with my new compatriot. I suggest a pry bar and a wood block. I ask the old man if is ok to bend his hood, “Yes, do it!”  he gasps.   It relieves  a bit of the pressure, but not enough & releasing it just creates more pain.  The old man is stuck between the right front fender, a work bench and the back of the garage. Big EMERGENCY ER red truck shows up with 2 big strong guys  they survey the scene,  I step back.  The biggest guy wiggles between the Ford F150 and the back of the garage to the front of the vehicle,  straining he pulls on the hood release and finally it pops the hood open.  Beats me how.  I leave it to the experts. The emergency vehicles with their flashing lights have attracted more neighbors and their pets, from their quiet existence.

Searching for a chair for our misshapen victim I see that his parked rv has a big sign warning away would be thieves. “STAY OUT, ALARMED”

As I prepare to leave, the blissfully unaware elderly wife comes out of the front door wondering “what is going on?”  That was good for a laugh.

I arrived at the Chinese restaurant to find it signed with “ NO EAT-IN, ONLY TAKEOUT”  ,  the 2nd such disappointment in 2 days.  So I lunch on a big fat chicken sandwich at the Diversity Cafe across the street,  a nightclub-come-breakfast-lunch place,  the bar is half full,  one a  loud  dreadlocked lug. Suddenly there is a uproar as the lug is strong-armed out of the bar by four screaming baristas,  I don't intervene.  Three lit-up cop cars showup,  cops in body armor swarm the front door of the bar.   I sit tight.  The cops take statements from the baristas.  A skinhead hoodied patron swabs blood from his mouth & face.  The same ER truck shows up, same ER guys, from the garage scene.  Other patrons say the big lug smashed his friend in the mouth, breaking his front teeth before skedaddling.

Lots of chattering after this bar post-event.  Someone says they cant get the CCTV video till they get the password from someone who is currently on a flight.

I’m “desperately” looking for a wifi password, so I can use an online dictionary and watch funny animal videos.

All returns to quiet.  I leave, thanking the bar tender for the exciting lunch  & asking her if she is OK,  she hugs me.

  

Lessons: 

• Replace your hood struts on a regular basis.

• Get witness names at the scene to ease retelling of the story. (So you can say Jim instead of “running-man”)

• When working alone, carry your cell.

• When entering a emergency scene, carry your cell phone.

• Cell phones & neighbors within shouting distance are more reliable than a spouse.

• Get wifi password immediately upon entering a bar.