8 replies to this topic

[KarenFerguson]

I just wrote this on my blog, but though I'd share it with you guys here as well.

Christ. People. So, I’m with my husband at Trader Joe’s today. We are pushing along the relatively tiny frozen food isle (me behind him, both of us gazing down at frozen green beans) when a clerk climbs down off her ladder and leans in to tell us something. Okay … here it comes some lame ass comment, and surprise she didn’t let me down. She says: “I saw you both over there and it looked like you had a tandem wheelchair!” My eye rolling begins. She goes on to add, “What a great idea!”. More eye rolling on my part and a little sad nod. Hubby lets out a tiny sigh and a sad laugh as we try to get back to shopping. Now, if you can believe it this is not the first time I’ve heard such a lame comment. The “tandem wheelchair” line has been uttered before. Wrap your heads around that for a moment.

Anyway, being the stereotypical “bitter disabled person” I get really pissed. I say to hubby “What the hell!? Can’t we just go grocery shopping!” I say this low enough not to make a scene, but loud enough for Trader Joe clerk to here us, and I hope she did. Then I start to feel really self conscious and really disabled. I just don’t get people sometimes.

To top off my Trader Joe’s shopping experience, the checker made the comment that I was buying a lot of snack products. And frankly, I was. The Super Bowl is this weekend and we are going to have company. So I bought a lot of chips, beer and microwavable yummies. I guess she disapproved of the lack of vegetables and “proper” meals. I shot back with it’s Super Bowl weekend! And she nodded. Not a nod of recognition, but a nod of ‘Yes, but you still should have a bag of carrots somewhere!’ Then she makes sure I can see the ATM card swiping thing, by saying “Are you sure you can read that?” Jesus! I had already swiped my card and she was printing out the receipt. Yeah, I think I can read the ATM card thing. Ahh!

So, I leave Trader Joe’s with lots of black bean & cheese Taquitos and the feeling of being really really disabled.

[kewlcatkez]

KarenFerguson, on Feb 2 2008, 06:02 AM, said:

So, I leave Trader Joe’s with lots of black bean & cheese Taquitos and the feeling of being really really disabled.

Hi KAren,

Unfortunately I can relate ( although not to the tandem chair thing as I am one of very few chair users around here). One I have had before, from a stranger is "you should leash your kiddies up to the front so they can pull you!" The thing is it was said with sincerity not in a jokey way! My hubby has jokingly said the same before, but I know that he is joking and that is different b/c he knows me intimately. How is it that strangers feel they can say stuff that would normally be reserved for people who know us well?

I have to say that I too feel my most "disabled" when others 'piss on my parade' by a) pointing out the obvious and b. making a scene, by shouting at me, b/c I obviously can;t hear waayyy down there in my chair..lol... so that everyone in the shop looks at me and my disabled-ness!

I try and smile and say something witty or sharp back, but often its hard to do that when you are minding your own business and not expecting anything.

From time to time I blog on similar. So take heart, it happens here too...!! urghhhh!!


Take care,

K

Edited by kewlcatkez, 02 February 2008 - 10:07 AM.

[DouBle_V23]

Someone said the same to me about getting a dog to pull me around, I told them "maybe I will wedge my foot in your ass, and you can pull me around" Everybody at the bank was laughing but him.

[LuckyinKentucky]

Ohhh crap, thanks Double V I haven't laughed like that in a while!

[DouBle_V23]

LuckyinKentucky, on Feb 2 2008, 01:21 PM, said:

Ohhh crap, thanks Double V I haven't laughed like that in a while!

I chuckle about it from time to time as well.

[seeker]

I was pushing my husband up the hill into the surgery the other day, and the district nurse was getting out of her car, and she says, "Wouldn't you like a motorized wheelchair, Joanne?" My husband replies, "She doesn't need one". Unfortunately, the nurse didn't get it. I laughed and called him a smart a$$.

[Apparelyzed]

Well,

I saw a two seated electric trike today, with two disabled people on it in the middle of Sainsburys!

They were both on crutches, and the trike was bloody huge!

So, they do kind of exist.

Simon

[josh]

DouBle_V23, on Feb 2 2008, 04:03 PM, said:

Someone said the same to me about getting a dog to pull me around, I told them "maybe I will wedge my foot in your ass, and you can pull me around" Everybody at the bank was laughing but him.

thats hilarious!

[Kev-O]

DouBle_V23, on Feb 2 2008, 04:03 PM, said:

Someone said the same to me about getting a dog to pull me around, I told them "maybe I will wedge my foot in your ass, and you can pull me around" Everybody at the bank was laughing but him.