"I know, my mother is a quadriplegic."
"I know, my brother has a walker."
I believe that as almost shadow community to the mobility challenged, there are people who have been "inoculated" or sensitized.
Does this ring true?
I have been developing a theory. I am now traveling with a rollator. This means that when elevators are not working, I need to navigate stairs and escalators. It's remarkable that when people step up to help me, they almost inevitably say things like:
"I know, my mother is a quadriplegic." "I know, my brother has a walker." I believe that as almost shadow community to the mobility challenged, there are people who have been "inoculated" or sensitized. Does this ring true?
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My union (http://www.psc-cuny.org/) successfully negotiated a new contract. A moment to offer high praise and honor to all of my colleagues who worked so hard to bring this about. Part of the new contract is a retroactive pay increase.
So,if I receive a windfall, where does it go? Well, if you are the three wheeled librarian, it's easy. I am planning to buy a new tricycle. Going to wait until the early Spring, but I promise plenty of pictures and a whole new series of the places I go. Part of the background of this is that my husband and I currently are "car free." I was struggling to find time to ride, until I had to. It's amazing how many places I can ride, when it's really needed. I have discovered evening riding as one of my absolutely favorite things to do. Happy birthday! I was given the altar flowers to take home Sunday morning, in commemoration of my birthday. Coping with my disability has been tough recently. For whatever reason, the theme of this birthday has been gratitude. Appreciation for my life, and appreciation for the quality of my life. I am a beloved wife and mother. I have a very successful career.
I have just returned from the American Library Association Annual Convention in Orlando, Florida. While I was there I walked an extraordinary number of miles. Two reasons: 1. The meetings I had to go to were really far apart. 2. I am too stubborn to go find the transportation provided for people with mobility issues. You see, in my head, I am a high-energy, extroverted athletic person. I pushed myself to the point that I became a hazard. Past a certain level of fatigue my gait breaks down. I fell again on Monday morning, on the way back from breakfast.
However, I would not be me if it weren't for this contradiction. I am a high-energy, extroverted, athletic person… Stuck in the body that doesn't work right. I fell last night. I was across the street from the downtown entrance to the 137th St. #1 stop. I tripped over a crack in the sidewalk. It was probably exhaustion. The walk up to City College from the subway is a wonderful steep hill, not far, but steep. I was up at City College to check out the venue for the Unconference that I'm planning in June.
I also fell directly across the street from a drugstore. With a nasty skinned knee, I walked into the drugstore to buy big Band-Aids and Bactine. Eventually got home, took care of myself, and got some sleep. When I got up this morning I inventoried my first aid supplies. What I discovered is that I now own not just one, but three partial boxes of big Band-Aids, the kind you buy for skinned knees. A valuable reminder that this is not a new experience, or a new problem. As I held onto that image, I understood that doing what I do, and working where I work, is a kind of magic trick. It doesn't always look like it makes sense, but it does. I am now Head of Public Services for a large, urban Community College. I love what I do, and the wear and tear is just part of the cost of doing business. i was reminded yesterday of a veryimportant principle. I am aware that my gait is different. As much as I have to put up with challenging days, I can walk, and I can climb stairs. I am doing it. I have no plans to give up.
Since we moved I now have a walk to the station every morning. This morning was glorious! It reminded me very much of the comparison between this winter and last winter. If you take a look at my archives, you will be reminded that last winter was really tough! I managed, with a lot of help.
The local groundhogs predicted an early spring. I'm a fan! I'm sorry I have not posted recently. I've been working hard, and walking a lot. I'm really enjoying being able to walk to the Train Station, the Public Library, and to Church.
Last Sunday we walked to Church, the Drugstore, and the Diner. It was a beautiful sunny day. As part of my journey every day I ride the PATH train from Newark to World Trade Center. These are both terminus stops, which means that they pull up a fresh train, fill it and pull it out. How competitive it gets to sit down (an essential point, I should not be standing when they start moving the train), depends on how long the wait between trains has been. Not constantly, but sometimes it turns into MUSICAL CHAIRS.
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Why three wheels?My name is Robin Brown. This is a picture of my "magic carpet." When I'm at work it's probably parked at the commuter rail station about a mile from my house. I get to ride three wheels because my right leg doesn't like to show up for work. I flunked riding two wheels. Archives
April 2018
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