Skip to main content

When a block is a mile and a hill is a mountain

 I love it when I'm able to surprise myself. It's kind of hard to do if you think about it - surprising yourself; it's not like you can jump out and say surprise or think something you didn't know you were thinking. You know what I mean?





Here's how the feat transpired. 

I was parked in Saugatuck at the corner of Butler and Hoffman, near the book store. I needed to get to choir rehearsal and then come back to the store, so my original thought was that I would drive the block and a half and then come back. But it was a busy Saturday and I knew that parking was at a premium, so I  debated with myself about whether I would drive or leave the car and maneuver to rehearsal. You might be thinking, what's the big deal it's only a block. Even in a wheelchair, you should be able to go a block. And I can.

But this is a block with a fairly steep hill and a fairly rutted sidewalk.

But if I drive t here may not be any parking spaces nearby and I'll end up having to park more than a block away.

I made the decision to go for it. Heck, I reasoned, I need a little extra exercise.

So started across the street and then turned the chair around and used my left foot (my left foot and leg are strong, it's the right the literally trips me up) to help propel me while I also used my arms to turn the wheels. At one point, I looked down towards my car and noticed that I'd popped open the trunk when I was debating about driving.  I thought, going back seemed like a lot of extra effort plus it's a safe small town I would close the trunk when I came back in an hour.

At about the same time as I made that decision, a woman called up asking if I needed help. I told her no, but could she close the trunk of my car. She paused a moment and asked "You sure?" It was a beautiful sunny day, I was sure.

I then stood, about halfway up that Hoffman Hill and decided to push the chair the rest the way.

Atop that hill, feeling joyful at making it to the top, I was greeted by four stairs in the sidewalk that I couldn't do. I wasn't going to let a stupid design flaw stop me now, so I opted to make my along Griffith street in the street until I made it to the First Congregational Church where we have out rehearsals. There I found the accessible entrance locked. I sat down, exasperated and nearly wept. Seriously, why does a 'simple' task have to be so complicated. Why are there so many roadblocks? I didn't want to get stuck in a pity party after how far I had come. Hell, it was like I climbed a damn mountain! So, instead I called one of my fellow choristers to come get me. She greeted me with a smile and a hug and her joyful presence.

We had a fun short rehearsal.

Greatly relieved and a little exhausted, I was grateful that the return trip was downhill.



Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

It's not a popularity contest, but ...

Time

I have been reading through the blog entries for John's caringbridge site and am marveling that it was only a year ago we were on that awful cancer journey. In a way it seems like so much longer - especially when I look at the Patient Patient and see just how wonderfully handsome and healthy he looks! John still has periodic visits with the docs in A2 and prior to each we are both a little nervous that the docs might find something. He calls after each visit and we breathe a sigh of relief when the docs declare that all is clear! We know patients that went through treatment at the same time haven't received the same news; our concerns are grounded in reality and our sense of relief immense. In the past year, we have heard of far too many people that have received a diagnosis of cancer - prostrate, breast, throat, etc. While the type of cancer may be very different, the family's reaction and the ultimate course of treatment may vary greatly. The family and loved ones g...
Post a Comment
Read more

Happy Birthday Michael Bowen!

This is a face I don't see anymore - except in my memories. That of my little brother Michael. Today would have been his 46th  birthday - but this senior picture is how I will always remember him because he was taken from us just a couple years after his senior year. I don't want to dwell on the sad details - because there are many and they can still all these years later bring me to tears. Because today is his birthday, I want to write about the many gifts he bestowed on those that he loved. Bernard Michael Bowen was the youngest of five. The rest of us have names that start with the letter K - but Michael from birth was going to be unique. Named for his paternal grandfather, whom everyone called Barney. No one called Michael, Barney, until high school when many were adopting nicknames. His friends would jokingly call him Barney! And like nearly everything else in his life, he seemed to smile and shrug it off and go with the flow. He played, and loved, football. A...
3 comments
Read more

The world according to Gimp

  I understand that there are those who may believe my use of the term 'gimp' is derogatory or demeaning. I do not use it lightly or to belittle anyone, it's just a lot easier for me to than 'disabled' or 'handicapped' because it uses a little snark or humor to something that could use a little of that. Or in this case, I specifically want to make light of my situation so that it doesn't feel depressing. For you or me. Let me try to explain.  One of my pet peeves is the look of sympathy I get from well-meaning people. Like, "Aw, sweetie, I am so sorry that you are less abled, confined to a wheelchair and less able to live the full, active life that I lead."  I am in a wheelchair most of the time and my life is different because of that but in truth I never wanted to run a marathon of play pickleball or climb Mt. Baldhead (I've done the latter too many times usually bringing up the rear of the group I was with and/or being cheered on by the ...
Post a Comment
Read more