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Joselita · 12-05-2006, 10:17 AM

Oh...Vic!

Your son is my Hero! For Real! He is, and so is anyone and everyone else that stands up to the **** holes that don't have manners and treat people in the manner that that crap head did! I can tell that he is a chip right off of the old block!

While I am lucky enough to not yet have to stay 24/7 in a wheelchair, I do use one sometimes. In fact, I will be using one very shortly, when I am in Vegas visiting my Folks (and hopefully my Brother! I wish we could chat...we have so very much to catch up on, my dear old friend! I have missed you so very much!!!!). I will use one for several different reasons; (1) the trip out there it's self will cause a pretty dramatic rise in my already high pain levels, and other symptoms (I have awful problems with swelling....that really gets bad a day or so after we get there), (2) I can't keep up with everyone any other way, and there is so much that we all want to see and do...and I don't really want to be left behind, or feel that I am holding anyone back, or miss out on being able to spend as much time as I can with everyone, (3) I can use the chair when I need to, and not when I don't. I do get some weirdo looks when we are out and about, and I get UP and OUT of the chair to walk around with my crutch for a bit (I always have my crutch there with me....I even use it kinda like a "jousting lance" to help open elevator doors, and the handicapped-easy-open-type of doors, by holding it out in front and aiming. ROFL, that is when my old Fencing Training comes in pretty handy, as I still have pretty good point control, and very rarely miss my target! Heh).

One of the things that troubles me the most about being in the wheelchair is how you all of a sudden almost become a "non-person" down there. Bubba (remember Bubba? LOL) used to call me "A Cart" when I was in a chair...and that is about how I feel sometimes. Folks just kinda ignore you. Either that, or they stare, or treat you like you are some kind of a nuisance.

In Vegas, it is such a mixed bag of folks visiting and living there, that you have all kinds of different cultures almost clashing, and trying to mix. When you are on the Strip, it is worse...and when you are there during Peak Tourist times..well..you can imagine. It is nothing to be making your way down the strip, or cutting through one of the casinos, and hear several different languages being spoken in the span of only a few feet. Pretty cool. But, the thing that maybe isn't quite so cool...or that is a little harder...is some of the different cultures (not sure if this is the right word here? My brain isn't working this morning....my back is killing me; had to stand out in sub-freezing weather last night to watch Jay in his last Christmas Parade. At least this year, I had some company, as Meghan was there with me, wither her bad cold and all

This was after she tortured me {don't ever tell he that I said that!} for the second time at her Cosmetology Class....for hours...lol) that are very used to dealing with small and cramped spaces? Or, with having lots of people to cram into limited spaces? It seems that this is mostly people of Asian Persuasion that do this cramming and jamming, and don't have much of a "personal space" thing...or a very teeny tiny one.

I have had folks (not just Asian people, either...I don't want to make it sound like I am picking on any one ethnicity, because I am not!), literally STEP OVER me, or my feet/legs which makes me very worried/scared/tense (pick a word, LOL), because of my lower body RSD, and my poor right foot sticking out there. So, I kinda try to hide it..but that causes problems all of it's own. I have had people JUMP over me, while a member of my family is pushing me, which has totally freaked me out, and caused my Dad (who looks like a typical Absent Minded College Professor, LOL) go on a cussing fit that has even impressed my TEENAGERS! ROFL.

I had a little Asian family try to stick their kids right in between my feet, and almost sit on my friggin lap (this was at the Treasure Island pirate show, when it was cool, and not the stupid singing sluts that they have now. LOL). I didn't mind the little kids getting right up close to my chair, so that they could see ( we had gotten there early, so that we could have a good place on the gang plank, since I have to get right up front, or I can't see *****, just like a little kid), but when the mom was trying to get them to climb OVER me, into the place between my feet? I was shocked. My Mom realized what was going on a split second before I did (she goes on "Super Sensitive Hyper Over Protective Mom Alert"...most times, it is very exhausting, but sometimes, it is helpful. LOL), and SHE went off on them. A little TOO hard, I think....and a little too colorfully, since she matched my Dad in impressing the Kids with...erm...."Grandma's More Interesting Vocabulary", ROFL. Especially since I don't even know if the poor people even understood English or not, and if they did, they DID have little kids there. Whatever the case, they got the point really quick...and we got dagger looks for the rest of the show.

I have been cut in front of in all sorts of lines, or had folks "race" to beat me there...like that is a big accomplishment. I have had people that work in stores not want to wait on me, or even take the time to help me out by answering a simple question....but if I send Meghan or Jay or my Mom back, the are more than Happy to help them. ROFL, if they have the misfortune of getting my MOM, they usually get an earful from her. Sometimes, a sly comment from one of the kids, and ALWAYS a dirty look from me, and a comment to their Manager. I have been pushed out of the way when trying to get into elevators. I have had people run in front of me after I have been waiting the longest and was first in line for an elevator, making me have to do it all over again, sometimes (usually) with the same results. Like I said...it is like other people do SEE you, but in a non seeing way? If that makes sense? They see you, because you are an obstacle or nuisance that will cause some problem for them, or slow them down, or just get in their way a little....and then once they do something to get around you, they make a studied effort to NOT see you, I guess to make themselves look better to everyone around them (How could I have done anything wrong, if I didn't SEE her there in the first place?), and even make themselves FEEL better about themselves? That probably didn't make sense, how I wrote it....maybe you understand what I am trying to say anyway...

I just don't understand people these days. I was brought up to be helpful to people. Not to stare, but also to not treat folks like "Non People" too, because all People are People, no matter what. Period. I don't understand people like the man Joan told to eat *****, and all of the others, who must have relations here, and everywhere else, that push and bump and do other such things when they SEE that someone has problems (like a crutch, or a cast, or a wheel chair, or whatever!), or the people that work in stores and DO NOT help (what happened to "The Customer Comes First"? That is what was drilled into my head when I worked retail...?), and the people like your man that your son grabbed up, or any of the other listed here, or the others that hare not, but that folks have dealt with. I don't understand.

And they all think that something is wrong with US. HA! Double HA! TRIPLE HA! I think that what I will start to do, when people act like crap heads to me, is say something like "I am so sorry for you. How long have you had YOUR affliction?" See what happens next. I bet nothing but some weird looks.....but hey! I get those anyway! ROFL!

Anyway...I am so glad that you are back...and that you are posting...and that you found this new place here. I hope that you like it better than BT. I really think you will, as the Moderators are much nicer, and actually HUMAN! The rules are understandable, and don't change as the wind blows, and folks don't get banned at the drop of a hat. Or without warning. The mods will actually TALK to you! How COOL Is that??? The talk to us, and NOT just about BAD stuff!

Ok...I know that you can do your own Long Posts...but I also know that you can't sit at the computer all day reading AND writing...and I know that I ALWAYS right long things, no matter how hard I try to do differently. I know that you and I have LOTS of catching up to do....and I know that there are some more posts of yours on here that I need to go and look at. I am just kinda slower these days...I know that you understand. II am glad that you are back!

Love and ((Hugs))
Jose