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Navigating the world while four-wheeling

Rain, rain, go away.
Don't come back another day.
My hair is frizzy.
Barometric pressure makes me dizzy.
If I go out, wet I'll be.
No umbrella hand free to protect me.


I'm no Longfellow! And I don't think I'd win a poetry slam, but you get the idea.
Rainy days, even when they're not Mondays, get me down. Because when you're navigating the world while four-wheeling, rain presents additional challenges.

Last week, for example, the wind was blowing hard enough to blow my wheelchair seat cushion off my car where I'd placed it while removing my chair.
It landed in a puddle, upside down, and rested there long enough that the absorbent material in the comfy cushion absorbed quite a bit of water. I may have let an expletive fly, because a store clerk who was standing up against the window under the protective eave, smoking a cigarette and looking at her phone, actually looked up. She didn't come to my aid, but she looked up. Thankfully, I had a towel handy and so I wiped the cushion off best I could. I then navigated in my chair through the rain across the parking lot to get to the cut away in the sidewalk leading up to the store - which was no where near the handicap parking. The store clerk had now gone back into the store, apparently oblivious to the rain-drenched woman in the wheelchair now struggling to open the door. Thankfully a man coming out of the store did notice the rain-drenched woman and helped her open the doors.

Once inside, I realized how absorbent my cushion was because now the back of my dress was wet as well. I went into the restroom and used the hand dryer to dry off as best I could. A knock at the door alerted me to the fact that I must have been in there quite awhile. I put the cushion (still damp) back on the chair and opened the door to see the same clerk who'd been outside. She had a bucket and cleaning supplies. Apparently, this soggy customer was hindering her from cleaning the bathroom. 

"I'm sorry," I said, smiling. "My dress and cushion got pretty wet from the rain and I was trying to dry them."

"Bummer." Was the response.

Yes it was. And yes it is.

I don't want special treatment because I'm a four-wheeler. I was reminded later that there a frivolous lawsuits filed all the time that make it expensive for businesses to be accessible. I just want people to be courteous - and that's what I've always wanted. It's just now that the world is more challenging to navigate I have noticed its lack more often. I also appreciate courtesy more than ever.

So, this morning I'm looking at my to-do list (and several items require venturing out) and out the window at another rainy day. And I'm trying to decide how best to turn that list into a 'to-done' list and the potential obstacles I'll encounter while four-wheeling. And I am remembering when I didn't think twice about just 'running a few errands' - because I could run into stores or walk while carrying an umbrella. And damn it, I miss those days. 

But I will make it happen today - I'll make it a challenge of sorts. And when the errands are run and I'm back home, I know that I will have encountered some really wonderful people that I wouldn't encounter if I didn't get out there. And I'll be grateful for the people and experience. 

I just looked out the window and the sun is peeking through some clouds - I've got to go!!!!


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