Scooter Saga

Where did our beautiful Summer and Autumn go?  I wasn't ready for gray skies, wet streets, and rain.  Not that we don't get rain year round, but it's back in earnest until Spring.  Last year, Earl outfitted Skeeter for whatever the season might throw our way.  Aside from the rain canopy*, she now sported one rear red light, one rear white light, and one really bright front light.  My helmet is turquoise, the jacket is very red and my gloves are still bright pink (Mom would be so proud**) .  I'm hard to miss unless someone felt the need to put me out of my fashion misery.  At least we weren't having the winter that the Midwest and East coast were enduring.  Fortunately, the Northwest has a temperate climate and we rarely see snow. Ready or not, the inclement weather arrived in November.  In spite of the weather, I decided to take a scoot to the library to deliver our election ballots.  It all came back to me as I scooted along —...

As ataxian, I'm commonly sporting some lump, bruise or something.*  Fortunately, the evidence of a mishap is often on my ass or some body part that's covered and doesn't elicit inquiry.  The mark is usually from a fall, but not always.  Once upon a time, I could brush it off, not feel it, or heal quickly.  These days, it takes so freakin' long to recover from an RRE (repair requiring event) and it's so unattractive .  Ugh!  It seems as if it doesn't take much to get a "senior stamp" or two.  Sometimes I know, but often I have no clue how I got the bruise–it just appears.  W hen bruising is visible, I can just say "My husband hit me."  No one who knows Earl gives that any credibility, but they figure that's the story, she's sticking to it, and they let the question drop. @!#% happens I've often said, and truly believe, it’s always something. Whether it's ataxia, cancer, heart disease, pain, aging, job change, they ha...

Earl and I planned a return trip to the zoo with Heidi, Sarah, and Kyle before the weather turned cold.  It had been three years since we all went with the four grandchildren.  At that time, I had used the zoo's motorized scooter and first got the idea of getting one for myself.*  I learned the hard way to take your own scooter or risk getting accosted (verbally or physically) by another disabled person.  There are many people out there who need assistive devices and they aren't always nice about the provided equipment. When stripped of her basket (I remove extras when not at home), Skeeter doesn't provide carrying capacity.  Womens' apparel tends not to have deep pockets.  That day, I had no pockets and still wanted to carry my smartphone.  I have a great carrying case that doubles as my wallet, holding cards and cash.  The good news is that I only have one thing to transport.  The bad news is, a combined phone and wallet doesn't fi...

Earl and I have always been dog people, but my limited mobility affected the kind of dog parents we wanted to be.  I realize there are docile, lap critters who need loving homes, but we've never been able to pull off sharing our life with small creatures.  Earl's not home full time and I consider myself lucky to navigate independently. Most dogs need more than I can fairly give, at a pace I can't manage easily.  Lucy's end game in 2011 was difficult.*  At nearly 14, her hip arthritis and bad knees kept her from getting herself to a standing position.  Earl had just broken his leg and was on crutches.  He couldn't help when she went down.  I was using a walker continuously and no help.  The three of us made a pretty pathetic parade. If not for a dog–loving, out-of-town friend, I'm not sure how we would have coped that last weekend.  Fortunately, she only had to help Lucy up. Lucy (1998—2011) Earl and I make do with the occasional dog f...

Zoe, our eight year old grand daughter, looked at me intently and asked, "Grandma, what do you do all day while Grandpa is at work?"  I truly believe that when a child poses a direct, well thought–out question, she deserves a non-defensive, well thought–out answer.* Being ready with just the right response, I said, "Uhhh.  Can I get back to you on that?" In all fairness, my hesitation was somewhat legitimate.  Like the sex discussion (apart from it not being my job) , I didn't want to give information she didn't ask about.  Zoe didn't need the blab, blab, blab about working inside vs. outside the home, men & women in employment settings, disability, ataxia, retirement, etc.  It's not the first time I've heard the "What do you do?" question, but most often, it's from a societally–influenced, internal voice.  Going somewhere else to work never needed justification.  Involving retirement/home/productivity may introduce an ...

Pacific Northwest Wine Country The Northeast deservedly promotes its beautiful Fall colors, but the Pacific Northwest is no slouch in the beauty department either.  Fortunately, we have an abundance of evergreen that keeps the landscape from becoming stark after the leaves drop.  The Portland area is close to the valleys of the Oregon wine industry.  It's lovely year round, but harvest time in particular, has become a worthwhile outing.  A favorite bicycling destination, Earl, Jason and friends go frequently.  After my diagnosis, I found myself missing the wine country adventures enjoyed by cyclists (whine, whine, wine) .  Like so many things, Skeeter provided an opportunity to bring that back in my life—with some adjustments. Our friends picked us up for a wine country day trip.  Fortunately, Skeeter is small enough to fit in most cars/SUVs, so we don't need to rent a truck.  Granted, frequent loading is required, but it doesn't seem ...

Something different—my first joint effort. Why I Blog? : schumant.blogspot.com Tammy Schuman I enjoy blogging, but never appreciated the varied ways it could be used.  As I mentioned earlier, I started journaling on my sister–in–law's recommendation and my musings morphed into a blog* (web log) .  Getting Skeeter changed my perspective and provided all sorts of laughable moments.  It was a compatible context for serendipity, my smart mouth, and learning to deal with a disability. While some people use blogs to vent, most people choose to inform others about their unique life experience.  I post when something happens or comes to me.  It's interesting the freedom you have when there is no salary involved.  A schedule of three posts in one week or only one in one month is not uncommon.   I have a friend who posted regularly to mark the impending birth of her first grandchild.  Initially, she used her blog to capture tho...