MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

My WOW Moment During Covid-19 Lockdown

By

John Tudehope
John Tudehope’s COVID-19 Gift of Apology

Dear MyPE

Yesterday, Wednesday 1 April, at about 16h30 I noticed a man standing at the top of the Mount Road reservoir, with his car parked in the cul de sac.

Remember we are on lock down.

I stood in my yard watching (actually – staring at) him until he returned to his vehicle. Before driving off he first stopped outside my gate and asked in a confrontational tone if I had a problem?

To which I replied; “Yes,” and asked him; “What part of lock down do you not understand”?

He replied that I must not question him on his actions as he is allowed to move around and that he has just finished a 12 hour theater shift at the hospital. I was taken aback on this response (which was fortunate as I can be quick to censure).

I acknowledged to him that I respect his duties & am thankful for him & his colleagues (we have only 4 confirmed Covid19 cases in PE) & wished him well. He drove off.

Our ‘conversation’ did, however leave a bitter taste, in that I should have questioned him on why he believed he had special or more “rights” than myself & other conforming people.

So this afternoon, after a busy lock down day in confinement, blow me down I see yesterday’s car drive up and STOP outside my gate.

I sprinted out of the house like Jerry being chase by Tom to engage with my conforming Doctor who by now was going to leave a note on the wall.

Instead he gave the note along with a small gift.

He said that he had come to apologize for yesterday & tell me that despite his bad day he had no right to break the law based on him being a Doctor.

I was gob smacked. It turns out he is a Doctor at our Livingstone Hospital.

For me this was truly a “wow” moment that rarely if ever happens or I get to experience.

It must have been eating him up all day

Morality, ethics and knowing good all make for a caring & healthy community.

Made in Port Elizabeth, only in RSA.

Regards

John Tudehope

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