[marion06095]

I went to Target today, and as usual I parked in a handicap space. Just as I was getting out of the car, a grumpy man walked up to me and said, “You don’t look very disabled to me.” Before I had two seconds to think, I smiled broadly and replied, “That’s because you are an idiot.” The look on the guy’s face was priceless, and I started laughing in spite of myself. I’ve never done anything like that before in my life, and I don’t plan to do it again, but it really felt soooo good!

[Twinkletoes]

MARION!!! I must say I am SHOCKED!!!

Good for you, woman! You ROCK!!!

[SallyC]

Shocked isn't the word...Delighted is more like it..

[Kitty]

We should all carry those tiny key-chain cameras with us so we can snap a picture of these morons when they have that priceless look after we've put them in their place!!

Good for you!!

[AZjanie]

Sounds like the guy had a medical condition of severe constipation??

I only yell at people when they deserve it!

You go girl!!

[AfterMyNap]

*Bestowing official Smart Aleck's honors upon fair Marion*

A+

[Dejibo]

My usual response is

"im sorry officer, I didnt realize they had you patroling this lot today. Tomorrow I will drag a leg and act the part better."


My husband once said "what do you think this is?!" as he smacks on the front pants leg of his jeans. as if he was missing a limb or had a fake leg. I almost spit out my gum!

[ali12]

LOL, I am soo shocked you said that Marian but you go girl - i'm so glad you stood up for yourself as it isn't right that people should walk all over you!!!!!!

Me and my mum once went to the Supermarket and I couldn't walk so I stayed in the car as my mum wasn't going to be a long time. We were parked in the Handicapped bit and had the badge out when all of a sudden, an old man opened our car door and said "Why are you parked here? I bet there is nothing wrong with you! You look too young to be parked in here!! I have severe arthritis and can hardly walk at all and you are just abusing this facility! It's wrong!!"! I was SO shocked and didn't know what to say!! I said to him "Would you like me to try and stand up and see what happens? I fall straight to the fall and it is pretty obvious I have crutches at the side of me and my mum has a wheelchair in the trunk of the car!!" The man didn't know what to say and just slammed the door and walked off!! I was SO annoyed that someone could say that - I would dare say anything like that to someone, even if I felt like saying something!! It's sort of like some older people think that because you're a child, you can't be disabled!!

I'm so proud of you for sticking up for yourself!! You GO girl!!!

[hollym]

You know there are days when my walking is much better and I get afraid to park in the HC spot because of people like that. So I end up hoofing it which leads to overdoing and then I end up hobbling and dragging limbs all the way back to the non-HC spot.

[Aarcyn]

Originally Posted by marion06095

I went to Target today, and as usual I parked in a handicap space. Just as I was getting out of the car, a grumpy man walked up to me and said, “You don’t look very disabled to me.” Before I had two seconds to think, I smiled broadly and replied, “That’s because you are an idiot.” The look on the guy’s face was priceless, and I started laughing in spite of myself. I’ve never done anything like that before in my life, and I don’t plan to do it again, but it really felt soooo good!

Well, I am going to be in the minority here with my reaction...

I have to wonder what motivated him to speak up. I really do need a handicapped parking space and my reaction is to like that he said something, even if he was a bit rude.

I think he could have been thanked and you could have explained that you have Multiple Sclerosis. Even educate him as to why you NEED to park there. Do you have to justify yourself? NO!!! But to explain would be a different way to handle it.

But it is an opportunity to have him learn, maybe guilt him into a donation to NMSS!

Because it is difficult for me to walk across a parking lot, I do look at someone getting out of a car easily and wonder if he/she is using the placard that belongs to a family member rather than actually need it him/herself.

I want people to speak up for me because I have seen those spaces abused.

The man may have had good intentions albeit that he could have expressed himself in an appropriate way but I am glad there are those that do care to keep handicapped places open for people like me.

I just had to add my two cents worth on this.