Scooter Saga

Earl and I headed to Maui for an early Fall month.  Warm weather, a pool for swimming, lots of reading, TV watching, eating time and Earl could bike to his heart's content.  We had dinner with our neighbors and enjoyed the beautiful sunsets 😎. A week in (9/18/2018), Earl left for an early morning bike ride and I enjoyed some solitude,  checked my email while listening to Pandora music – all was right in my world.  I received an unfamiliar, but local call on my cell, answered it, and was greeted by a cheery female voice. "Hi, is this Tammy?" "Yes,"  I answered, thinking 'who is this?' 😁 "Are you related to Earl?" 😐 "Uh, yes," my heart began to pound... "Are you his wife?" "Uh, yes," I knew then that she wasn't calling to ask me to meet Earl somewhere for a beer. 😨 "Well, Earl's fine, but he did have an accident on his bike and this is the Maui police calling.  He was talking to us befo

The last time we went to Tucson, it was with Skeeter (of course) and my little Winnie walker.  Four years later, I was wheelchair-bound.  With Earl, my primary caregiver, in Portland, my new village consisted of three girlfriends.  Fortunately, they were experienced veterans dealing with my various mishaps, so I was unconcerned about that.  To me, the bigger issue was Thelma's dimensions*.  Would she fit going down the hallways?  Would she fit in the bathroom?  Could I get up at night, transfer to the wheel chair. and get to the bathroom without falling on my unsuspecting friend?  Yes, Thelma maneuvered down the hallway.  No, she didn't fit in the bathroom, but waited patiently  just outside  for me.  Yes, I was able to transfer and go to the bathroom without falling on my friend. Usually, when Earl and I fly, it's on a full size airplane with a gateway to the plane door.  I scoot down, we check both the scooter and wheelchair like baby strollers, I hold on to his shou

Earl and I had to face it.  We were in the seventyish–ish group when our parts start complaining *.  Having Ataxia for a while, I had become accustomed to dealing with 'body malfunctions'.  Not that I always take things in stride, but I usually accept a certain level of inevitability.  When Earl began having pain in his hip, it was a totally new experience to him.  As the progressive discomfort started impinging on a lifelong active lifestyle, he was open to a corrective intervention.  X–rays predictably confirmed that one hip needed replacement surgery.  Anticipated, but somewhat complicated by his caregiving responsibilities.   He was going to be temporarily out of commission and not available to me.  Of course, it is all about me. In and out 14 hours  Fortunately, he had surgery and went home later that day.  Jason was the designated caregiver.  Where was I?  Granted, having a disability and being wheelchair–bound made me less useful, but Earl's surge

There are so many things that make having a movement disorder annoying, but two things really stand out.  One is having to think about every single component of basic activities when I never did before.  Secondly is getting up during the night.  Having a pea–sized, rather than camel–sized bladder makes it more complicated with Ataxia.  I'm grateful to not be cognitively impaired as I awaken, requiring only a brief period of orientation to get the correct direction. However, it's important to remember where I am.  It's either in Lake Oswego with Earl on the left side of the bed, the bathroom is to the right or in Maui where he sleeps on the right and the bathroom is to the left. But, there is one more thing to think about.  Thelma, the travel wheelchair, brakes high in the back.  Louise, the home wheelchair, brakes low in the front. Which chair awaits*? What would be the consequence of getting it wrong?  If facing the wrong direction, I could cough in Earl's face. 

It's no secret that my political views lie to the left of center.  This post may well offend some more conservative friends, but it won't be the first time.  The 'March for Our Lives' was important to me, but I was concerned about my limited mobility.  I needed Earl to get us there and he strategically parked halfway between the start and the finish.  It wasn't too far before the three of us reached the gathering multitudes and was also easy for us to return to the car at the end. Have scooter, will march Venturing forth in a large crowd when one has a disability and views people at waist level has its disadvantages.  In fact, it can be downright hazardous both for me and those in the crowd.  I learned in Disneyland to keep your eyes straight ahead, pay attention, and move with the crowd*.  I was relieved not to have been involved in any mishaps.  Fortunately, I had Earl and granddaughter Zoe to blaze the trail, but I did manage to score Earl's heel t

Disclaimer:  I was working on this blog in Maui when the false missile alert occurred.  That seemed more timely, so I put this one on hold.  This posting is a bit unseasonably late. Portland's outdoor Christmas Tree   I enjoy the holidays and have learned to embrace the 'less is more' philosophy of last year*—until this year.  Being raised Catholic, our Thai student had plenty of Christmas seasons, but no country does over the top celebrating like the US, especially the commercial, excessive, and secular parts.  We decided to share the whole experience. The Jingle Bell Walk Special events are part of this season.  Even I participated in both, one traditional and one new.  Every year, Earl organizes a Jingle Bell walk.  They walk from downtown hotel to hotel looking at (and judging) the holiday decorations. This year since the weather was good, Skeeter, me, and the granddaughters joined in.  We were concerned that the size of our group would discourag

Just when I thought we could do nothing new in Maui, the nuclear missile alert happened.  It's always something. At 8:00 am, Earl’s out for his beach walk and waiting for the start of the Maui High School canoe races. I’m in the condo when I get the first alert. At the same time, with canoes about to go in the water, all activity was halted.  As a wheelchair-bound person, I was concerned, but not panicked.  I mean, really? First alert 8:04 1/13/2018 To Earl T: Interesting alert. Where would we go for shelter from a nuclear missile?  More to the point, does it matter? E: Not sure. Turn on the news T: The news says if you’re outdoors, go indoors.  If you’re indoors, stay away from the windows.  They said that they will let people know when the alert is over. E: Do they say anything about when the canoe races are going to start? (He was just yanking my chain. He really came back to the condo) 8:34 Oops. Nevermind 😳 My first clue that there was no ca