Scooter Saga

Years ago, I was at a professional reception with Earl.  A man was there using open cuff/arm crutches and persisted standing, when he clearly was fatigued and needed to sit down. I wondered about that, but now I get it.  He wanted to be part of the conversation.  I accepted very early on that it's an able–bodied world.  But I needed to appreciate and adapt to the 'uprightness' of it as well. From the time I started using Skeeter, I learned another lesson about the nature of being disabled.  In many social settings, a mobility–impaired person is below eye/conversation level, either in a wheelchair or a motorized scooter.  Since I no longer use a walker, I am perpetually at belly button level.*  That often means looking up in order to feel part of the action. Have stool, will perch If there is a bar stool, I'll climb up on it by any means possible.   No matter how awkward I look or how long it takes, it puts me at conversation level ...

Five weeks had elapsed between the Maui and Holiday posts.  I was getting some inquiring e-mails. I didn't get distracted, sick or injured and hadn't died. It's not that there's a huge following, but I am usually more regular in posting at least once or twice a month.  Blogging is a 'feast or famine' endeavor and it's just that nothing new happened.  When I started this four years ago, I said if I already talked about it, or the post was not based on a real event, or had no humor value, I wouldn't blog about it.*  I will say however, the graphics have gotten better in four years.  If there's nothing to say, SHUTUP Certainly, there is progression with ataxia.  But, it is fairly slow and constant. This blog was never meant to be informative.  It's not a sitcom during the off–season.  Do I have writer's block?  Perhaps.  Maybe I've run out of things to say.  Maybe my sense of humor is hiding somewhere.  Nah,  I'm ju...

As I approached the first post-retirement Christmas, I vowed not to go into it channeling last year's Holiday Dictator.* It's not as if I usually did everything and Earl did nothing . It's just that I had never shared in the decision-making. I'm not a "My Way or the Highway" kind of person.  But during Christmas, I have to admit to being a "My Way is the Best Way" kind of person.  Outdoor Décor Earl started by getting the Christmas ornaments out of the attic.  That area used to be somewhat organized. Then we remodeled our house and the Tenison family moved in while their house was being built.**  The attic was where we threw everything that didn't have a home and now it was a death trap.  Fortunately, Earl (new to the 'Elf Club') , only bumped his head a couple of times and managed not to kill himself while extricating the holiday paraphernalia***.  He moved on to hang the big ornaments all along the driveway and put up...

Thelma & Louise This trip to Maui was our first since exchanging the walker for the wheelchairs. Our trip to Sequim, Washington showed us that Thelma, a transport chair with a small footprint, can get through pre–code doorways*.  Our condominium in Maui is upstairs, all on one level once inside, has code doorways, but carpeting throughout.  That makes 'feet–only' navigation challenging. Thelma's brakes are low and in back. Louise's brakes are high and in front.  Still, her conventional rear wheels allow me to use two means of propulsion (arms and legs) **.  Almost a month without Louise's comfort and maneuverability gave me pause, but in the end, we left her behind. Bedside, poolside, lanaiside It turned out to be a very good call. The bad news is that I now require more assistance to go up and down stairs.  The good news is that I have more assistance.  That was another humiliation bullet to bite and get over. Thelma folds up com...

I was so proud of myself. With the help of Skeeter, I was on top of the modifications in my neighborhood and maintained a level of outdoor activity*.  So when Earl suggested that I join him and our friend on a Saturday morning walk in downtown Portland (my old stomping grounds) ,  I enthusiastically accepted.  Holy crap!  Times they are a–changing.  While I was staying up with suburban Lake Oswego, the Portland downtown had undergone significant growth in the last year.  I knew the metropolitan area was experiencing a population increase, but the development took me by surprise and made it seem much more urban, dense, and (gulp) less affordable. Warehouses to apartments From the early 90s, a group of us ran in the downtown area on a regular basis.  The group had dwindled down for both geographical and physical reasons.  One couple relocated, walking was preferable to some, and I was now on a scooter instead of my feet.  But, we were...

As she was putting away an inordinate amount of party supplies, Sandie commented "You two entertain a lot."   It's not that Earl and I have lots of parties.  But people in the Pacific Northwest tend to schedule events during the driest months (July, August, September) . We're most likely to have good outdoor weather, use our deck, and pool. I have to confess to being the local 'Party Supply Central'.  Before the onset of my ataxia, I was a travel stuff addict.  Now that I'm more locally focused, I acquire party stuff.  Fortunately, my family and friends know to check with me before buying anything . Thanks to inheriting my mother's military wife entertaining supply legacy and my own addiction, chances are good that I have large quantities of it. Earl and I also preserve marital harmony with lots of pre–party planning. He tolerates my lists and I tolerate his detailed menus.  Our goal is to see our friends, have a good time, and not kil...

Obtaining flowers isn't usually much of a problem here.  I see them when scooting on my garden route*.  Earl has developed a green thumb and is cultivating some on his own.  Friends and neighbors are a good supply.  I have developed a reputation in that I never met a flower I didn't like.  Bottom line:  Flowers make me happy and I always have places for arrangements**.  But, when Earl suggested that we go to the Dahlia Festival in nearby Canby, we had decisions to make.  Nothing is simple these days.  Did I really want to go?  1.  Was this event worth the effort?  Answer: Yes 2.  What's the best vehicle***?  Answer:  Skeeter would allow me more unassisted mobility. 3.  Would my bladder last 3 hours?  Answer:  Probably Portland and surrounds, like many cities, holds one celebration or another for its flowers. From June through August, there's the Rose Festival, the Tulip festival, the Iri...