I was diagnosed with MS in March 2005. I've had steady progression with weakness in my right leg and right side of my body. It started with an occasional limp, then dragging the foot, to pulling the right hip up and pulling my limp leg up and over. I KNEW I would soon overcome this because I am a very positive and proactive person. I recall slumping my shoulders and asking the nurse practitioner, "at what point does one ask for one of those things that hang from the rear view mirror?" Yes, the dreaded handicap decal. And eventually my "Share the Road" cycling license plate was replaced with a "handicap" license plate.
At first I felt guilty parking there. I wouldn't take a spot unless there were at least three other spots. What if someone MORE handicap needs parking? Now, I'm annoyed when there aren't any handicap parking spots! How the heck am I supposed to get from here to there? A walk to the mailbox looks like an eternity and I've lost count of the number of falls I've taken. And this coming from the person who hiked the John Muir Trail on my honeymoon (225 miles) and use to do multi-day adventure races!
The other day I pulled up to a handicap spot in a crowded recreational park. I had my window rolled down and the maintenance man heard me say to my son, "this looks like a good spot." He replied "Oh no mam, that's a handicap spot." I smiled really big and said "I know I don't look handicap, but I am." When he saw me struggle to get out he came over and apologized and helped us get the scooter out of the back. I didn't mind. It's kind of like when you're 30 and someone asks to see your ID before buying alcohol. Of course, I wonder, what does it LOOK like to be handicap?
The other day I went for yet another medical procedure and the disabled parking area was close to the entrance and there was no charge for that one area. Hot dog! I felt like I won the lottery. VIP parking!
Of course my overactive mind thinks constantly about what to call myself. I'm not crazy about labels. I've explained to my kids where the term "handicap" came from - a "crippled" person would sit on the sidewalk with their cap / hat reached out for money, begging. They just pulled out that Handy Cap and made a day of it. Well heck, I'm not a beggar. Then once I saw a license plate that read "DISABLED" but the person put a line through the "DIS" part. Does that mean some people will be offended if I say disabled? And honestly, there are times I feel like the most ABLE person around!
Aw shucks, call me whatever you want - just say it with a smile!
I am smiling and I am trying to think of what I want to call you. You are not handicapped. When I think of handicapped it think of horse races and they handicap the slower horses. You are not handicapped you are a race horse who is just resting between races.
ReplyDeleteI like that Craig! I'm a race horse taking a little rest.
ReplyDeleteIt infuriates me when I see a person with a handicap card hanging from their mirror and they get out of their car like nothing. No cane, no wheelchair, no limp, no nothing. They should have a permanent plate that says lazy, rude and selfish! I want so bad to call them out on but don't for fear of getting shot.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm just back again from another half-week spent helping out my dad and his wife, both of whom have great difficulty getting around and are virtually house-bound. When I've dropped them at the doctor's office door or on the sidewalk of the hospital and they are waiting on canes or in a wheelchair for me, and the parking lot is full, I will take the handicapped spot, as it is often the only one available. My anxiety overtakes my politeness at those times. I fished her off the sidewalk only yesterday in front of their house; she only wanted to get her own mail. Falling is such a pain; hope you are okay, Marj
DeleteI hear ya Dona! I have friends with MS who have more hidden symptoms (cognitive, internal, etc.). They too need that parking. It drives me crazy too but it's also possible they may be dealing with some "invisible" symptoms so then I give them the benefit of the doubt. :))
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