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Being a 35 year wheelchair user makes me think of many things, but the worst, is not being able to have normal bodily functions. Wearing adult diapers, bed pads that make you sweat and stink, having accidents, wearing a foley catheter ALL THE TIME, getting pressure sores in the most awful  places...I could go on and on with just that area of the body. But--people tell me to be glad I'm alive. Okay...I'm glad.

Accessibility first, but then just even needing to use a chair or anything "adaptive" and being viewed by many in the world as "different"... Also, the fact that while being in a chair affords some plusses (like getting around in a timely manner) it is a double-edged sword that causes other things to deteriorate (ex. you have to sacrifice muscles (atrophy) and strength/abilities in order to gain the other "advantage(s)". Does this make sense? I know what I am trying to explain, but I'm not sure it is coming through accurately... Smee.

everything !  everything !  everything ! 

 

                                               Rainey xo  

Not being able to dance....................................peace and love.........Norma

I think that everything that has to do with being in a chair is the thing I like the least. I miss being able to just jump in the shower, or take a bubble bath withut having to have my hubby pick me up to get me in and out. Being able to wear anything I wanted. Being able to just hurry into a store when it is cold or raining instead of having to get the chair together then transfer into it. I miss being able to play tennis the way I used to, or dancing. I miss being able to walk and have my hubby walk behind me with his hands around my hips. There are alot of things that I hate about being in a chair and it makes me think "damn, i sure took all that stuff for granted before my accident". I do know that if I ever do walk again, there is no way I could ever take it for granted again!!! 

I may never use my clogging shoes again.....but have you folks checked out the International Wheelchair Dancing competitions online?  They make the Waltz look absolutely elegant....and the Samba is hot hot hot!

 gotta agree, everywhere i've wanted to go, i've been able to if I put my mind to it and figured out workarounds, but stupid small stuff lock me up, took me 3 months to figure out how to fix a leaky faucet simply because I would not put my mind to it.

 i've wanted to wheelchair race for years but I was embarrased until i found this place and my buddy/mentor tri-dog. Now I'm rarin to go!

That and i discovered the world of devotees. Some are a bit off but some genuinely want to be friends. you accept help and support wherever you find it. I got a stern lecture on accepting and letting fols be nice to me and it has worked wonders.

 

nuff for now

Brock