Learning to accept and live with a disability is not easy. As a matter of fact, it’s much harder than I thought it would be. Looking back in time, I thought I was good at counseling people with new disabilities but obviously was fooling myself. I now believe that, to counsel a patient with a newly diagnosed disability, you have to have a similar problem yourself.
In other words, I underestimated the impact of being disabled. I want to visit my brother in Tennessee when my handicapped-equipped van is ready. My van has been converted by Braun with an in-floor ramp and a floor designed to lock in my motorized wheelchair. So, step number one is done. I have transportation that will carry me and my 350-pound wheelchair wherever I go.
Step one gets me to my brother’s house. Step number one was easy; it just cost big bucks. Step number 2 is not so easy. When I get there, how do I get into the house. Alan has steps at all entrances. To get me into the house, Alan would have to build ramps. Another expense. Let’s assume that he goes through the expense of building ramps, I’ll need a handicapped bathroom.
I’m in luck. Alan has a handicapped equipped bathroom. The catch is that it’s on the second floor. No sweat! He has a chair lift. While the chair lift will take me up the stairs, for the most part, I can’t walk. Now we have to get me from the chair lift to the bathroom and from there to the bedroom. Point made!
The logistics of dealing with a handicapped individual are near impossible to imagine. I think my travel days are over. Or are they? I had to cancel my trip to Ireland. My friends leave next week. They’ll send pictures and we will Facetime. I’ll use Google earth to follow their trip. I’ll use YouTube as well. Cyber travel is about the best I can do. Google Earth will further expand my ability to walk the same streets they walk on.
Being handicapped is costly emotionally, physically, and financially. I guess my advice should have been to be born to rich parents or work hard, save your money and invest wisely. In other words, good luck! I worked 7 days a week, sometimes putting in 16-hour days. I did that for 35 years and still worry about the expense of a handicapped van, in-house assistance, etc. In retrospect, long term care insurance would have been a wise investment. And going to the gym on a regular basis would have built physical reserves I could sure use now. On the bright side, cyber travel is now possible and I intend to use it liberally.
Today’s joke: I’m going to rename my bathroom substituting Jim for John. Insead of saying,” I’m going to the john,” I’m going to say, “ I’m going to the Jim.” I may go to the Jim 3-4 times a day. Impressive! I started a new exercise routine this week: do 100 crunches in the morning and again in the evening.
My favorites are Doritos cheese supreme and Lays
