12 replies to this topic

[dorkette]

I was talking to my roomate/best friend today and she told me that she was going to have to stop carrying my water bottle around with her because she keeps getting questions about it. She was at work today (at Whole Foods) and some guy she works with was like nice water bottle, where'd it come from. Her, who hadn't thought about it and just pulled it out the our fridge that morning cause it was the one full and what not, was like oh, my roomate's. It came from St. Jude. (Last month I went and did a study up there and got a goody bag of stuff)

Guy: Isn't that the cancer place?
Her: Yah. She had cancer as a baby. Wrapped around her spinal cord. Now she's in a wheelchair.
Guy: Is she... alright and stuff.
Her: Um, yah. She's fine.
Guy: Does she hate people that walk?
By this point my roomate said that she couldn't keep a straight face and just started laughing. "No. She doesn't."
Guy: Do you take care of her or something?
Her: No. That'd be dumb. She can take care of herself.
Guy: Is you're other roomate in a wheelchair too?
Her: No.

We had a good laugh over the guy's stupidty and I told her that she didn't look like that much of a saint to have two roomates in wheelchairs for her to take care of. Much less, if people could see how playfully mean we are to each other. I don't know if y'all have friends y'all can curse at or call a whore and junk and know it doesn't mean anything. For Pete's sake we bark at each other (as in, I'm your bitch) when we ask each other to do a bunch of stuff.

And people always assume that we must be sisters although we could not look less like each other. It's simply unfathomable for people that I could have a friend in life

[longhaul]

Hi, I was with some friends in front of a restaurant one night after dinner when this guy came up to me and said " I wish I was in one of those" he said some other stuff about getting to ride everywhere but I was looking for a way out so I said later and left.

[Mike (c4-5) & Lorena]

I get the "Boy I wish I had one of those" (wheelchais)". All the time.

Or

"Your lucky, you get the disabled parking spot."

Or

"You are lucky you don'y have to walk all the way to ..." (thats my wife)

I look at them as expression. Even more so, I see it as they dont see me physicaly bound, but as a human. A lot of people don't get the behind the scenes issues of being disabled. They have no clue. Even my wife constantly forgets when making plans or complaining about walking around Las Vegas. "Hey ding-bat, I am in a wc.". Yes, I am lucky in mmy own special way. Gotta love her.

At my office, I get so many weird questions that once asked people feel terrible. Why? I will usually joke about it and then explain or leave it be. "Hey, you want to go running?", "Could you pick that up?" It's funny to me. I have so many funny stories but one time my leg started spasaming and my knee started hitting the underside of a metal drawer. We were on the 33rd floor and people thought an earthquake hit. I explained my situation to the wide eyed teammembers. Boy was I tickled. They hit the deck so fast.

Smile at those who don't know better or just teach them. I really don't see the harm. Unless they are being mean, run them over. Then ask them how it feals to be using a wc?

[Georgia7]

Its funny how people only tend to appreciate the things we get away with without thinking of what we miss out on.My boss at work always tells me i enjoy it when the lifts are down due to power coz i cant go up to 4th floor using stairs like everyone else.Thing is he has no idea hw i wish i could go up n' not be transfixed in one place like a statue!Back at varsity i had a terrific friend whom everyone mistook for a social worker or my sister!People thought she did all the stuff for me n' wondered hw she managed with school?From their point of view she was doing me a favor by staying with me forgetting that i did her a favor by offering her accomodation freely when norm was that she pays me in some way.I guess its amazing hw we r' misjudged bt then who knows maybe i wld have been a** too under diff circumstances.Thats life.

[JT80]

i guess we all get the 'i could do with one of those' comments...
i see it as a feeble attempt at humour rather than offensive. in life there are witty/funny people and others who were at the back of the queue. these lame jokes come from that second group of humourously disabled people. i'm often thinking 'tell me a funny wheelchair joke and i'll laugh'.
what really bugs me are the lazy layabout people who complain about..'i'm too tired to do this... or thats a bit difficult/i can't be bothered type attitude - waste of a decent spinal cord.
i also had a sponsorship request the other week to sponsor a young, healthy guy in his 20's on a 20km sponsored walk... err, no way buddy - i am very happy to sponsor people who push themselves to the limit and beyond/challenge themselves physically and mentally but that takes the p1ss.

[Texaswheelz]

JT80, on Apr 21 2008, 07:47 AM, said:

what really bugs me are the lazy layabout people who complain about..'i'm too tired to do this... or thats a bit difficult/i can't be bothered type attitude - waste of a decent spinal cord.

Seen this....no excuses.

[Soryfam]

I was told the other day that if I would just lose a little more weight I would be able to walk. That the key is to be at your perfect weight. That the back and spine have nothing to do with your legs. Oh brother, that one take the cake.


Sandy S

[JT80]

Texaswheelz, on Apr 21 2008, 02:00 PM, said:

JT80, on Apr 21 2008, 07:47 AM, said:

what really bugs me are the lazy layabout people who complain about..'i'm too tired to do this... or thats a bit difficult/i can't be bothered type attitude - waste of a decent spinal cord.

Seen this....no excuses.

exactly. thats great...
i like the nike adverts but haven't seen that one in the uk.

[Kwag_Myers]

Last week I was in a meeting and a guy needed to point to a display that was too high. My cane was the first thing he spotted and so he asked if he could borrow it. Everyone laughed when he used it as a pointer including me.

Yesterday, my boss asked me if I was offended by it. Apparently, someone complained. I thought it was pretty stupid. The guy could have just as easily borrowed my pen to use as a pointer. I wonder if that would have offended anyone. Anyway, I told my boss that the complainer needs to get a sense of humor.

[KarenFerguson]

Just got back from Target with hubby. As we're pushing down the isle side by side, some lady says "Look! You can both race down the isles!"

Crap. Why is it always the freakin' RACING comment! I realize we might look a big odd ... two people in wheelchairs together (oh the humanity!), but can't you just keep your silly little "joke" to yourself.

People just don't realize that we might have feelings too - or heaven forbid be actual people riding around in those wheeled contraptions. GAH!!

[Kwag_Myers]

Well, you're a better person than me for not saying anything to her. I'd probably say something like, "What's that hubby, like the fourth RACING comment today? One more and we'll have a new record."

But then I'd probably go call on a perspective client and guess who would answer the door? It wouldn't be the first time.

[Emily C]

Texaswheelz, on Apr 21 2008, 09:00 AM, said:

JT80, on Apr 21 2008, 07:47 AM, said:

what really bugs me are the lazy layabout people who complain about..'i'm too tired to do this... or thats a bit difficult/i can't be bothered type attitude - waste of a decent spinal cord.

Seen this....no excuses.

MAN!!!!! I absloultely LOVE, LOVE this commercial!!! Thanks for the link!!!

KarenFerguson, on Apr 23 2008, 06:32 PM, said:

Just got back from Target with hubby. As we're pushing down the isle side by side, some lady says "Look! You can both race down the isles!"

Crap. Why is it always the freakin' RACING comment! I realize we might look a big odd ... two people in wheelchairs together (oh the humanity!), but can't you just keep your silly little "joke" to yourself.

People just don't realize that we might have feelings too - or heaven forbid be actual people riding around in those wheeled contraptions. GAH!!

Hi Karen

I went outside with my Aid today and moved my scooter so a guy (older) could get around me. He hollored out: "Do u need a license for that, do u have one"?
I didn't say anything, nut the looks/comments are starting to get on my nerves...I get the 'race' comment too...take care

[wheeliebear75]

Oh hey that's awesome..........a commercial showing one of us doing something active for a change (or even at all).

I've heard a ton of lame comments over the years. But I just "love" hearing someone say "boy I sure wish I could stay home all day and not have to work". Yes people really should think about the fact that it's a package deal...........yes we get the great parking and many of us don't work........but nobody seems to be jealous of all the lousy aspects of having a SCI.