Thursday, April 12, 2007

People's Compassion is Boundless.

So it's been a long morning.

It started much like any other. I had to install a new PC under someone's desk. In the process of trying to get the Machine moved into place a plugged in, I managed to bounce my head off of one of the cubicle desk supports and into the edge of the computer I was trying to install. At this point, I'm pretty sure that I've given myself a concussion. As I'm rolling on the floor swearing and cursing in pain, there are 4 guys sitting at their desks not 3 feet away, and not one of them asks what's wrong or how I'm doing. I put my hand to my forehead and feel the familiar warm liquid that tells me I've split myself open. I stand up, walk across the hall and inform HR that I have injured myself (proudly wearing my crimson mask) before I go to the restroom to get a wet paper towel and assess the damage. Turns out I've opened up a 3 to 4 inch cut on my forehead. It's not a gash, just a cut, but it is bleeding profusely. I apply pressure with the wet paper towel and go back to HR's office to now give her the full details. After a brief discussion and an accident report, I go back to trying to plug in a PC while holding a wet paper towel to my head (mind you the 4 guys still haven't even asked if I'm okay). As I finish setting up the PC, my cell rings.

"Help Desk", I say

"Can you reset my email session, I'm locked out"

"Sure," I respond "but it may be a few minutes as I'm bleeding from my forehead."

"Well, how long will it be? It's kind of an emergency for me to get into my email."

"I'm not kidding, I'm bleeding from my forehead. I'll get to it as soon as the bleeding stops"

"How long do you think that will take? I really need to get into my email."

At no point did the person on the other end of the line ask what happened or how I was doing. They simply wanted their email account reset and didn't really care what was going on in my life. I hung up and went back to my desk to reset the aforementioned email. As I was resetting the email, someone comes into my cube. At this point I should mention that the bleeding has still not stopped and I'm still sitting with my hand holding a blood red piece of paper towel to my head to apply pressure. Without commenting on the blood, this guy starts telling me a horrible story about how his PC is locking up and he can't log into our database. He doesn't ask how I'm doing or what happened, he simply wants his PC fixed and fixed NOW!

So, I head over to his PC (still holding the bloody paper towel to my head) and start looking at his PC. The head ache is killing me and I can't say my vision is particularly clear, but I'm doing the best I can. As I'm looking at the PC, my cell rings yet again.

"Hi, remember that problem we were having yesterday?"

"Yes", I respond trying to use short words and keep my cool.

"Well, we're still having it"

"Okay, well right now I'M BLEEDING FROM MY HEAD!!!!! I will try to look at your problem once the bleeding stops."

"It's just that I'm going away on vacation for two weeks starting tomorrow and this needs to be resolved before I leave."

"I understand that, and I will be happy to look into your problem ONCE THE BLEEDING STOPS!"

"Well, it's just really important that I get this resolved"

"I know. I'm sure I'll be able to look at it later this morning, or perhaps early this afternoon."

At no point did this caller even miss a beat when I told him I was bleeding. He didn't ask if I was okay, he didn't ask what had happened. He simply kept telling me how important his problem was. The compassion of people amazes me.

P.S. - The bleeding has now stopped, but the cut is still oozing a little. I have a major headache and don't really feel like dealing with other peoples' problems right now. Thank you for asking!