I had to make a one-day roundtrip business flight from Seattle to
Portland. All things conspired to make the trip as unpleasant as
possible in terms of my legs and feet. . .up very early, a lot of
walking, a delayed then cancelled flight, the flight I was switched to
also delayed, missing the primary meeting I went for, coming home late
in the evening, well you get the picture. By the time I disembarked
from the plane in Seattle, I was about "done in." I nearly pitched
down the plane steps onto the tarmac. I struggled to climb the stairs
up to the terminal and all sorts of folks were getting very irritated
with me for my slowness and kept pushing past me. When I got into the
terminal, I stepped aside and when the crowd passed, fell into step
with an older gentleman using a cane. He and I just smiled at each
other and enjoyed each other's company on a slow walk out of the
terminal. It's food for thought for all of us.
Jane
>>> "Lindstrom, Ann (Ann)" <Ann.Lindstrom(AT)octel.com> 06/08 9:25 AM
>>>
Alton - I agree with all the lessons learned at the end of you
message.
I am so lucky to have a supportive spouse and friends and family who
have really been there for me. The able-bodied world really
doesn't
get it. For those of us who are mobile, and look pretty normal,
but
are in constant pain, it gain be pretty disheartening at times. One
good thing though, I have learned a different way of connecting with
the
disabled. At a theater a few weeks ago, I noticed a girl with leg
braces making her way slowly up a long ramp, and smiled at her. She
responded with the most radiant smile. For years I have been
turning
away from people with disabilities in the belief that it was not
polite
to look at them too long. Never again....l.Ann