Scooter Saga

In March, I rented a 4-wheeled scooter in Tucson for our annual girls' trip and enjoyed the ability to join my friends most anywhere as opposed to not going or being parked.  I can accompany casual and aggressive walkers, but not runners.  Top speed on a scooter is about 4.5 MPH. My friend Pam took me on a tour of the University of Arizona campus.  We went to a museum photographic exhibit and had my first “scooter adventure”.  No, it wasn’t in the museum.  Before leaving, I thought it was prudent to use the bathroom.  By that time, I was completely confident in my tight quarter manuevering.  so much so that I wanted to try washing my hands at the sink instead of using hand sanitizer.  So I scooted up to the sink a bit too fast.  I think Pam used the word “rammed”.  Yep, I wedged the scooter tiller under the sink. “Pam, I’m stuck!’ “What do you mean you’re stuck?” “I mean I can’t move.  If I stand up, can you pull?”  I d...

To celebrate our 40th Wedding Anniversary, Earl bought me this instead of a diamond ring.  Four wheels, a rearview mirror, a bigger basket, and a bigger battery. As my Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCA)progressed, I had to bite the humiliation bullet, not care what people thought (they may stare briefly, but they really don’t think about a person with disabilities for long) , or shut up and stay parked somewhere. After several rental trials, here she is.  By the way, Skeeter is the name of one of my favorite characters in a book called “The Help”.  Freedom! The motorized scooter doesn't replace my Winnie rollator as it affords no exercise, challenge, or incentive to maintain muscle strength--that has to come from elsewhere and there are many occasions where some leg and upper body strength are required.  What it does do is vastly increase the range I can go and what I can participate in without mortal fear of falling.