It was late one evening and I was packing for yet another trip to China. I realized that it would be much more convenient to have a bag that rolls. So I got in my car and went to Walmart. I shopped for about thirty minutes before I decided on the perfect carry on bag for my trip. I checked out and paid for everything. I went out the door and as I was going out the last door I heard someone say, "let me see your receipt". Well it was late and I was in a hurry so I just kept walking and did not even look back. The young man came up beside me and said let me see your receipt. I was starting to get worried. He was built very well and had not identified himself to me. I did not see any ID labeling him as a Walmart employee. I started walking faster and then to run. I thought I was being robbed. I imagined that when I stopped he would pull a gun are a knife. This made me run faster. I ran as fast as I could thinking that if I could lose him, and get to my car, I would be safe. I was not as fast as he was though. I felt his hand grab my shirt and yanked me down to the ground. I twisted my neck and skinned my knee when I fell. At first it hurt just to get up. He accused me of shoplifting at this time and said I was going to jail. I told him he was crazy and that I had never did anything like that in my life. By this time one of the store managers had come out and someone from security. I told them that my neck and back was hurting and showed them my scraped knee. They did not even care. I asked them to drive me to the hospital but they refused. I tried to get away but they twisted me around and put handcuffs on me. In the struggle my bag was ripped and the things I bought scattered across the ground. The original attacker said "see there, that fell from his clothes". I was very embarrassed because there were a lot of my neighbors passing in and out of the store. The manager was listening when I kept saying over and over again that I was not shop lifting. Someone finally thought to ask me for a receipt. I was so embarrassed by this time I did not mind being searched and showing my receipt. When I showed them it they immediately let me go. I still had to drive to the hospital. I got to the hospital and it took almost one hour to see someone. While I was waiting the police came by. They asked me what had happened. I told them how I had been attacked in the parking lot. That was all that they said. The hospital took my blood pressure and did some tests. They told me I had to wait for the doctor. I had to leave because my plane was leaving for China about five hours later in Atlanta. I still had to finish packing. I went ahead home and packed my bags. I was very uncomfortable driving to Atlanta but managed. After the trip and some rest I could bear the pain. It got so that it only hurt when I twisted the wrong way. I was out of the country almost three months for Caps gel working. When I got back there was a bill from the hospital. I took it to the store, and the manager paid it. He also gave me a $50 gift certificate, I guess to pay for my shirt. He also said the young attacker was no longer with Walmart. They had terminated him for attacking me. I never had problems with my neck before but now it seems to always ache. I have since had instances that I could not even get out of bed with out help. I went to a chiropractor a couple of time earlier this year when it was real bad, and it seemed to help. I hate doctors and would rather take the pain than have medicine. I have seen what the medicine that doctors put you on does to people. I would have took them to court but I just never had time with my travels. I feel what they did was wrong but what can I do. I am not going to spend a whole lot of time in a doctor's office just to prove I am hurting. There is nothing that the doctors can do, so why go. I just want to tell other people so that you might think before you go into a Walmart store, be careful.

Still Aching December 2004