CATHY IN CT AND THE CROWDS

[Guest guest]

HI CATHY,

I HAVE ALREADY FOUND ESPECIALLY THIS SUMMER WITH ALOT OF TOURISTS

AROUND, IN WISCONSIN, THAT PEOPLE SEE ME EITHER WITH MY CANE ON A

GOOD DAY OR MY WHEELCHAIR, THAT THEY HAVE TO GET IN FRONT OF ME OR

CUT ME OFF OR ALMOST KNOCK ME DOWN.

PEOPLE ARE ONE OF TWO WAYS, EITHER FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL OR DOWN

RIGHT RUDE AND MEAN. IF I AM IN THE CHECKOUT LINE, JUST BECAUSE I

HAVE A CANE OR AM IN MY WHEELCHAIR DOES NOT MEAN I WILL BE ANY

SLOWER THAN ANYONE ELSE. SPEED IS UP TO THE CLERK AND THIS POINT.

IMMEDIATELY, PEOPLE ASSUME YOU ARE GOING TO RUIN THEIR WHOLE

ROUTINE OF GET IN AND GET OUT ! SO NOT TRUE..THE RUDEST PEOPLE TO ME

IN STORES HAVE BEEN, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, MEN IN THEIR LATE 50-60'S.

I LEFT WAL-MART ONE DAY IN TEARS. A MAN NEARLY KNOCKED ME OVER IN

THE QUICK CHECK OUT THE PAY FOR ONE FISHING LURE, I HAD I BOTTLE OF

FRUIT JUICE, AND MY CANE. THEN HIS BUDDY, ( I ASSUME) BUDGED IN

FRONT ME, ACTUALLY BUMPING ME TO PAY FOR HIS ONE SINGLE FISHING

LURE. THE SHOCK OF NEARLY BEING KNOCKED OVER NOT ONCE BUT TWICE WAS

AWFUL....THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED..

MY DAYS WITH A CANE ARE NOW OVER AND AT 44 I AM IN A WHEELCHAIR,

THAT IS HARD ON THE FAMILY AND ME, SO A TRIP TO THE STORE IS ALOT OF

HARD WORK, AND I AM THERE ONLY FOR AN OUTING. NOT REAL SHOPPING

ANYMORE BECAUSE I BECOME TOO TIRED RIGHT AWAY, I 4 AUTO-IMMUNE

DISEASES. SO WHEN I AM IN MY WHEELCHAIR, I FIND PEOPLE STANDING

AROUND TALKING OR " GRAZING " WITH CARTS WILL NOT MOVE OUT OF MY WAY,

I HAVE TO GET AROUND THEM. IT IS EXHAUSTING TO WORK YOUR ARMS

AROUND A LARGE STORE ANYWAY AND NAVIGATION AROUND GOOD LEGS GETS ME

VERY UPSET. IT IS LIKE I AM INVISIBLE TO SOME PEOPLE, THEY DO NOT

SEE ME ON PURPOSE, A NON-PERSON. AND YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ABOUT

HANDICAPPED PARKING. MY DAUGHTER WILL DRIVE AROUND AND AROUND AND

THEN WE ACTUALLY SEE SOMEONE IN SEVERAL SPOTS THAT ARE NOT

HANDICAPPED AT ALL..!

I DO NOT MEAN TO COMPLAIN, IT IS JUST SOMETHING I AM TRYING TO

UNDERSTAND NOW THAT I AM THE ONE IN THE WHEELCHAIR, JUST HOW THE

WALKING ON LEGS WORLD VIEWS ME.

CINDI

[Guest guest]

Fortunately DH takes over when we get in line at the register. He gives me

the keys to the car and I start out. Of course many a time he still gets to

the car before I do...<sigh> But this system works well for us.

I still don't like the fact that I just can't drive much any more and DH has

to cart me around. It is still hard for me to be dependant on someone.

There are days when I am just not graceful about my limitations. (I can

have such a " potty mouth " !! ) :-(

DH wants to go out for breakfast and then hit a couple little shops so I

better get going.

Hugs

in Ct.

[Guest guest]

Fortunately DH takes over when we get in line at the register. He gives me

the keys to the car and I start out. Of course many a time he still gets to

the car before I do...<sigh> But this system works well for us.

I still don't like the fact that I just can't drive much any more and DH has

to cart me around. It is still hard for me to be dependant on someone.

There are days when I am just not graceful about my limitations. (I can

have such a " potty mouth " !! ) :-(

DH wants to go out for breakfast and then hit a couple little shops so I

better get going.

Hugs

in Ct.