My caregivers here, at my assisted living home, are many, and vary in experience, understanding of English, and attitude. I'm sure that would be the same in any job. Three I have had since I moved here in 2008. Today one of those was with me when I moved my non-cooperative left leg. Her back was to me, so she missed it, and I was totally not expecting anything so wonderful since I got about three hours of sleep last night.
"I just moved my LEG!" I shouted.
"Huh?" she replied.
"I moved my left leg, my foot moved!"
She looked at me without expression, "Is that special?" (IS THAT SPECIAL???!!!)
The first time it happened my caregiver hoisted my walker (photo is on my blog) with glee!
"You don't know that I can't move my left leg?"
She does a sort of laugh, "No." (I was dumbfounded. She has lifted me daily, was called when I fell and medics came, has been here since day one.)
"Why do you think I can't walk with this walker?" I ask her.
Again the snide laugh, "I don't know."
"You don't know."
"Nope." She walks away.
I sit there saying over and over, "Unbelievable." I say nothing further to her the rest of the hour but "Bye."
What I really wanted to ask was: Am I that common here, you have so many other clients, that my health issues are completely unimportant to you and extremely forgettable? Sigh.
Besides my personal strides (no pun intended) (well, maybe) as of late, my partner has been walking with her walker down to our dining room (a far trip for us)!! She has been doing her own exercises and walking a little longer each day, as is possible. We were sooo excited!
What did a resident here say to her? "I see you are walking. I knew you were faking it."
SERIOUSLY?? Look, I have not always had MS and I have not always been disabled even with MS, and I would NEVER dream of saying such a thing to anyone! What kind of mind thinks like that? This came from what I thought was a sweet 70-80ish old lady, who rarely says a word to us. When I heard that I wanted to drive down with my cane and give her a free colonoscopy.
Adding to this, people here are still confusing me with my partner and vice versa. (We all look alike, you know, gay, wheelchairs, under 65...) and one day when she stood from her chair to get our mail out of the box a fellow resident says, "So you CAN stand up." He had met me a month before and I explained my MS; he has had a stroke. Ever since he saw my partner stand, he gives me a dirty look. SERIOUSLY??
I will never understand what motivates people who must question another's physical limitations. It is none of their business, they are not the health patrol, and have they no empathy?
Oh, the things I would like to say to these people and their failing bodies and minds. (They see themselves as perfectly fit. Uh, you have told me that same thing every day for 6 months now. Why exactly are YOU here again? But no, I have MANNERS.) These people are old enough to know better!
Now, I was used to getting stupid comments at my job from young, healthy people. "Why the gimp stick?" "That scooter looks like fun! Can I try it?" Fortunately, I was around them long enough to see Karma grab them by the, well, grab them. The "gimp stick" commenter ended up on crutches after a skiing accident and what a cry baby! "I'm sorry. Now I know how YOU feel." Really? I don't think so, here is how I feel: I will still be needing a cane long after your leg has healed and you will be the same assh, er, jerk, that you will probably always be.
Ha ha, excuse me, I shouldn't laugh, but the scooter comment guy broke BOTH legs in a car accident and HE apologized, was so nice to me, until he healed and then he was a bigger jerk than before---why? Well, of course, because look at HIM! He suffered and beat his problem while *I* still baby myself with a cane.
Why I thought older, more experienced people would treat us differently is beyond me now. I have dealt with all this for 20 years, my partner does not have callouses yet. Good thing I respect my elders, but I am beginning to wonder why I should.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
EARN Your Respect, Elders. Cruel Words to Disabled
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My caregivers here, at my assisted living home, are many, and vary in experience, understanding of English, and attitude. I'm sure that would be the same in any job. Three I have had since I moved here in 2008. Today one of those was with me when I moved my non-cooperative left leg. Her back was to me, so she missed it, and I was totally not expecting anything so wonderful since I got about three hours of sleep last night.
"I just moved my LEG!" I shouted.
"Huh?" she replied.
"I moved my left leg, my foot moved!"
She looked at me without expression, "Is that special?" (IS THAT SPECIAL???!!!)
The first time it happened my caregiver hoisted my walker (photo is on my blog) with glee!
"You don't know that I can't move my left leg?"
She does a sort of laugh, "No." (I was dumbfounded. She has lifted me daily, was called when I fell and medics came, has been here since day one.)
"Why do you think I can't walk with this walker?" I ask her.
Again the snide laugh, "I don't know."
"You don't know."
"Nope." She walks away.
I sit there saying over and over, "Unbelievable." I say nothing further to her the rest of the hour but "Bye."
What I really wanted to ask was: Am I that common here, you have so many other clients, that my health issues are completely unimportant to you and extremely forgettable? Sigh.
Besides my personal strides (no pun intended) (well, maybe) as of late, my partner has been walking with her walker down to our dining room (a far trip for us)!! She has been doing her own exercises and walking a little longer each day, as is possible. We were sooo excited!
What did a resident here say to her? "I see you are walking. I knew you were faking it."
SERIOUSLY?? Look, I have not always had MS and I have not always been disabled even with MS, and I would NEVER dream of saying such a thing to anyone! What kind of mind thinks like that? This came from what I thought was a sweet 70-80ish old lady, who rarely says a word to us. When I heard that I wanted to drive down with my cane and give her a free colonoscopy.
Adding to this, people here are still confusing me with my partner and vice versa. (We all look alike, you know, gay, wheelchairs, under 65...) and one day when she stood from her chair to get our mail out of the box a fellow resident says, "So you CAN stand up." He had met me a month before and I explained my MS; he has had a stroke. Ever since he saw my partner stand, he gives me a dirty look. SERIOUSLY??
I will never understand what motivates people who must question another's physical limitations. It is none of their business, they are not the health patrol, and have they no empathy?
Oh, the things I would like to say to these people and their failing bodies and minds. (They see themselves as perfectly fit. Uh, you have told me that same thing every day for 6 months now. Why exactly are YOU here again? But no, I have MANNERS.) These people are old enough to know better!
Now, I was used to getting stupid comments at my job from young, healthy people. "Why the gimp stick?" "That scooter looks like fun! Can I try it?" Fortunately, I was around them long enough to see Karma grab them by the, well, grab them. The "gimp stick" commenter ended up on crutches after a skiing accident and what a cry baby! "I'm sorry. Now I know how YOU feel." Really? I don't think so, here is how I feel: I will still be needing a cane long after your leg has healed and you will be the same assh, er, jerk, that you will probably always be.
Ha ha, excuse me, I shouldn't laugh, but the scooter comment guy broke BOTH legs in a car accident and HE apologized, was so nice to me, until he healed and then he was a bigger jerk than before---why? Well, of course, because look at HIM! He suffered and beat his problem while *I* still baby myself with a cane.
Why I thought older, more experienced people would treat us differently is beyond me now. I have dealt with all this for 20 years, my partner does not have callouses yet. Good thing I respect my elders, but I am beginning to wonder why I should.
My caregivers here, at my assisted living home, are many, and vary in experience, understanding of English, and attitude. I'm sure that would be the same in any job. Three I have had since I moved here in 2008. Today one of those was with me when I moved my non-cooperative left leg. Her back was to me, so she missed it, and I was totally not expecting anything so wonderful since I got about three hours of sleep last night.
"I just moved my LEG!" I shouted.
"Huh?" she replied.
"I moved my left leg, my foot moved!"
She looked at me without expression, "Is that special?" (IS THAT SPECIAL???!!!)
The first time it happened my caregiver hoisted my walker (photo is on my blog) with glee!
"You don't know that I can't move my left leg?"
She does a sort of laugh, "No." (I was dumbfounded. She has lifted me daily, was called when I fell and medics came, has been here since day one.)
"Why do you think I can't walk with this walker?" I ask her.
Again the snide laugh, "I don't know."
"You don't know."
"Nope." She walks away.
I sit there saying over and over, "Unbelievable." I say nothing further to her the rest of the hour but "Bye."
What I really wanted to ask was: Am I that common here, you have so many other clients, that my health issues are completely unimportant to you and extremely forgettable? Sigh.
Besides my personal strides (no pun intended) (well, maybe) as of late, my partner has been walking with her walker down to our dining room (a far trip for us)!! She has been doing her own exercises and walking a little longer each day, as is possible. We were sooo excited!
What did a resident here say to her? "I see you are walking. I knew you were faking it."
SERIOUSLY?? Look, I have not always had MS and I have not always been disabled even with MS, and I would NEVER dream of saying such a thing to anyone! What kind of mind thinks like that? This came from what I thought was a sweet 70-80ish old lady, who rarely says a word to us. When I heard that I wanted to drive down with my cane and give her a free colonoscopy.
Adding to this, people here are still confusing me with my partner and vice versa. (We all look alike, you know, gay, wheelchairs, under 65...) and one day when she stood from her chair to get our mail out of the box a fellow resident says, "So you CAN stand up." He had met me a month before and I explained my MS; he has had a stroke. Ever since he saw my partner stand, he gives me a dirty look. SERIOUSLY??
I will never understand what motivates people who must question another's physical limitations. It is none of their business, they are not the health patrol, and have they no empathy?
Oh, the things I would like to say to these people and their failing bodies and minds. (They see themselves as perfectly fit. Uh, you have told me that same thing every day for 6 months now. Why exactly are YOU here again? But no, I have MANNERS.) These people are old enough to know better!
Now, I was used to getting stupid comments at my job from young, healthy people. "Why the gimp stick?" "That scooter looks like fun! Can I try it?" Fortunately, I was around them long enough to see Karma grab them by the, well, grab them. The "gimp stick" commenter ended up on crutches after a skiing accident and what a cry baby! "I'm sorry. Now I know how YOU feel." Really? I don't think so, here is how I feel: I will still be needing a cane long after your leg has healed and you will be the same assh, er, jerk, that you will probably always be.
Ha ha, excuse me, I shouldn't laugh, but the scooter comment guy broke BOTH legs in a car accident and HE apologized, was so nice to me, until he healed and then he was a bigger jerk than before---why? Well, of course, because look at HIM! He suffered and beat his problem while *I* still baby myself with a cane.
Why I thought older, more experienced people would treat us differently is beyond me now. I have dealt with all this for 20 years, my partner does not have callouses yet. Good thing I respect my elders, but I am beginning to wonder why I should.
My caregivers here, at my assisted living home, are many, and vary in experience, understanding of English, and attitude. I'm sure that would be the same in any job. Three I have had since I moved here in 2008. Today one of those was with me when I moved my non-cooperative left leg. Her back was to me, so she missed it, and I was totally not expecting anything so wonderful since I got about three hours of sleep last night.
"I just moved my LEG!" I shouted.
"Huh?" she replied.
"I moved my left leg, my foot moved!"
She looked at me without expression, "Is that special?" (IS THAT SPECIAL???!!!)
The first time it happened my caregiver hoisted my walker (photo is on my blog) with glee!
"You don't know that I can't move my left leg?"
She does a sort of laugh, "No." (I was dumbfounded. She has lifted me daily, was called when I fell and medics came, has been here since day one.)
"Why do you think I can't walk with this walker?" I ask her.
Again the snide laugh, "I don't know."
"You don't know."
"Nope." She walks away.
I sit there saying over and over, "Unbelievable." I say nothing further to her the rest of the hour but "Bye."
What I really wanted to ask was: Am I that common here, you have so many other clients, that my health issues are completely unimportant to you and extremely forgettable? Sigh.
Besides my personal strides (no pun intended) (well, maybe) as of late, my partner has been walking with her walker down to our dining room (a far trip for us)!! She has been doing her own exercises and walking a little longer each day, as is possible. We were sooo excited!
What did a resident here say to her? "I see you are walking. I knew you were faking it."
SERIOUSLY?? Look, I have not always had MS and I have not always been disabled even with MS, and I would NEVER dream of saying such a thing to anyone! What kind of mind thinks like that? This came from what I thought was a sweet 70-80ish old lady, who rarely says a word to us. When I heard that I wanted to drive down with my cane and give her a free colonoscopy.
Adding to this, people here are still confusing me with my partner and vice versa. (We all look alike, you know, gay, wheelchairs, under 65...) and one day when she stood from her chair to get our mail out of the box a fellow resident says, "So you CAN stand up." He had met me a month before and I explained my MS; he has had a stroke. Ever since he saw my partner stand, he gives me a dirty look. SERIOUSLY??
I will never understand what motivates people who must question another's physical limitations. It is none of their business, they are not the health patrol, and have they no empathy?
Oh, the things I would like to say to these people and their failing bodies and minds. (They see themselves as perfectly fit. Uh, you have told me that same thing every day for 6 months now. Why exactly are YOU here again? But no, I have MANNERS.) These people are old enough to know better!
Now, I was used to getting stupid comments at my job from young, healthy people. "Why the gimp stick?" "That scooter looks like fun! Can I try it?" Fortunately, I was around them long enough to see Karma grab them by the, well, grab them. The "gimp stick" commenter ended up on crutches after a skiing accident and what a cry baby! "I'm sorry. Now I know how YOU feel." Really? I don't think so, here is how I feel: I will still be needing a cane long after your leg has healed and you will be the same assh, er, jerk, that you will probably always be.
Ha ha, excuse me, I shouldn't laugh, but the scooter comment guy broke BOTH legs in a car accident and HE apologized, was so nice to me, until he healed and then he was a bigger jerk than before---why? Well, of course, because look at HIM! He suffered and beat his problem while *I* still baby myself with a cane.
Why I thought older, more experienced people would treat us differently is beyond me now. I have dealt with all this for 20 years, my partner does not have callouses yet. Good thing I respect my elders, but I am beginning to wonder why I should.
My caregivers here, at my assisted living home, are many, and vary in experience, understanding of English, and attitude. I'm sure that would be the same in any job. Three I have had since I moved here in 2008. Today one of those was with me when I moved my non-cooperative left leg. Her back was to me, so she missed it, and I was totally not expecting anything so wonderful since I got about three hours of sleep last night.
"I just moved my LEG!" I shouted.
"Huh?" she replied.
"I moved my left leg, my foot moved!"
She looked at me without expression, "Is that special?" (IS THAT SPECIAL???!!!)
The first time it happened my caregiver hoisted my walker (photo is on my blog) with glee!
"You don't know that I can't move my left leg?"
She does a sort of laugh, "No." (I was dumbfounded. She has lifted me daily, was called when I fell and medics came, has been here since day one.)
"Why do you think I can't walk with this walker?" I ask her.
Again the snide laugh, "I don't know."
"You don't know."
"Nope." She walks away.
I sit there saying over and over, "Unbelievable." I say nothing further to her the rest of the hour but "Bye."
What I really wanted to ask was: Am I that common here, you have so many other clients, that my health issues are completely unimportant to you and extremely forgettable? Sigh.
Besides my personal strides (no pun intended) (well, maybe) as of late, my partner has been walking with her walker down to our dining room (a far trip for us)!! She has been doing her own exercises and walking a little longer each day, as is possible. We were sooo excited!
What did a resident here say to her? "I see you are walking. I knew you were faking it."
SERIOUSLY?? Look, I have not always had MS and I have not always been disabled even with MS, and I would NEVER dream of saying such a thing to anyone! What kind of mind thinks like that? This came from what I thought was a sweet 70-80ish old lady, who rarely says a word to us. When I heard that I wanted to drive down with my cane and give her a free colonoscopy.
Adding to this, people here are still confusing me with my partner and vice versa. (We all look alike, you know, gay, wheelchairs, under 65...) and one day when she stood from her chair to get our mail out of the box a fellow resident says, "So you CAN stand up." He had met me a month before and I explained my MS; he has had a stroke. Ever since he saw my partner stand, he gives me a dirty look. SERIOUSLY??
I will never understand what motivates people who must question another's physical limitations. It is none of their business, they are not the health patrol, and have they no empathy?
Oh, the things I would like to say to these people and their failing bodies and minds. (They see themselves as perfectly fit. Uh, you have told me that same thing every day for 6 months now. Why exactly are YOU here again? But no, I have MANNERS.) These people are old enough to know better!
Now, I was used to getting stupid comments at my job from young, healthy people. "Why the gimp stick?" "That scooter looks like fun! Can I try it?" Fortunately, I was around them long enough to see Karma grab them by the, well, grab them. The "gimp stick" commenter ended up on crutches after a skiing accident and what a cry baby! "I'm sorry. Now I know how YOU feel." Really? I don't think so, here is how I feel: I will still be needing a cane long after your leg has healed and you will be the same assh, er, jerk, that you will probably always be.
Ha ha, excuse me, I shouldn't laugh, but the scooter comment guy broke BOTH legs in a car accident and HE apologized, was so nice to me, until he healed and then he was a bigger jerk than before---why? Well, of course, because look at HIM! He suffered and beat his problem while *I* still baby myself with a cane.
Why I thought older, more experienced people would treat us differently is beyond me now. I have dealt with all this for 20 years, my partner does not have callouses yet. Good thing I respect my elders, but I am beginning to wonder why I should.
My caregivers here, at my assisted living home, are many, and vary in experience, understanding of English, and attitude. I'm sure that would be the same in any job. Three I have had since I moved here in 2008. Today one of those was with me when I moved my non-cooperative left leg. Her back was to me, so she missed it, and I was totally not expecting anything so wonderful since I got about three hours of sleep last night.
"I just moved my LEG!" I shouted.
"Huh?" she replied.
"I moved my left leg, my foot moved!"
She looked at me without expression, "Is that special?" (IS THAT SPECIAL???!!!)
The first time it happened my caregiver hoisted my walker (photo is on my blog) with glee!
"You don't know that I can't move my left leg?"
She does a sort of laugh, "No." (I was dumbfounded. She has lifted me daily, was called when I fell and medics came, has been here since day one.)
"Why do you think I can't walk with this walker?" I ask her.
Again the snide laugh, "I don't know."
"You don't know."
"Nope." She walks away.
I sit there saying over and over, "Unbelievable." I say nothing further to her the rest of the hour but "Bye."
What I really wanted to ask was: Am I that common here, you have so many other clients, that my health issues are completely unimportant to you and extremely forgettable? Sigh.
Besides my personal strides (no pun intended) (well, maybe) as of late, my partner has been walking with her walker down to our dining room (a far trip for us)!! She has been doing her own exercises and walking a little longer each day, as is possible. We were sooo excited!
What did a resident here say to her? "I see you are walking. I knew you were faking it."
SERIOUSLY?? Look, I have not always had MS and I have not always been disabled even with MS, and I would NEVER dream of saying such a thing to anyone! What kind of mind thinks like that? This came from what I thought was a sweet 70-80ish old lady, who rarely says a word to us. When I heard that I wanted to drive down with my cane and give her a free colonoscopy.
Adding to this, people here are still confusing me with my partner and vice versa. (We all look alike, you know, gay, wheelchairs, under 65...) and one day when she stood from her chair to get our mail out of the box a fellow resident says, "So you CAN stand up." He had met me a month before and I explained my MS; he has had a stroke. Ever since he saw my partner stand, he gives me a dirty look. SERIOUSLY??
I will never understand what motivates people who must question another's physical limitations. It is none of their business, they are not the health patrol, and have they no empathy?
Oh, the things I would like to say to these people and their failing bodies and minds. (They see themselves as perfectly fit. Uh, you have told me that same thing every day for 6 months now. Why exactly are YOU here again? But no, I have MANNERS.) These people are old enough to know better!
Now, I was used to getting stupid comments at my job from young, healthy people. "Why the gimp stick?" "That scooter looks like fun! Can I try it?" Fortunately, I was around them long enough to see Karma grab them by the, well, grab them. The "gimp stick" commenter ended up on crutches after a skiing accident and what a cry baby! "I'm sorry. Now I know how YOU feel." Really? I don't think so, here is how I feel: I will still be needing a cane long after your leg has healed and you will be the same assh, er, jerk, that you will probably always be.
Ha ha, excuse me, I shouldn't laugh, but the scooter comment guy broke BOTH legs in a car accident and HE apologized, was so nice to me, until he healed and then he was a bigger jerk than before---why? Well, of course, because look at HIM! He suffered and beat his problem while *I* still baby myself with a cane.
Why I thought older, more experienced people would treat us differently is beyond me now. I have dealt with all this for 20 years, my partner does not have callouses yet. Good thing I respect my elders, but I am beginning to wonder why I should.
My caregivers here, at my assisted living home, are many, and vary in experience, understanding of English, and attitude. I'm sure that would be the same in any job. Three I have had since I moved here in 2008. Today one of those was with me when I moved my non-cooperative left leg. Her back was to me, so she missed it, and I was totally not expecting anything so wonderful since I got about three hours of sleep last night.
"I just moved my LEG!" I shouted.
"Huh?" she replied.
"I moved my left leg, my foot moved!"
She looked at me without expression, "Is that special?" (IS THAT SPECIAL???!!!)
The first time it happened my caregiver hoisted my walker (photo is on my blog) with glee!
"You don't know that I can't move my left leg?"
She does a sort of laugh, "No." (I was dumbfounded. She has lifted me daily, was called when I fell and medics came, has been here since day one.)
"Why do you think I can't walk with this walker?" I ask her.
Again the snide laugh, "I don't know."
"You don't know."
"Nope." She walks away.
I sit there saying over and over, "Unbelievable." I say nothing further to her the rest of the hour but "Bye."
What I really wanted to ask was: Am I that common here, you have so many other clients, that my health issues are completely unimportant to you and extremely forgettable? Sigh.
Besides my personal strides (no pun intended) (well, maybe) as of late, my partner has been walking with her walker down to our dining room (a far trip for us)!! She has been doing her own exercises and walking a little longer each day, as is possible. We were sooo excited!
What did a resident here say to her? "I see you are walking. I knew you were faking it."
SERIOUSLY?? Look, I have not always had MS and I have not always been disabled even with MS, and I would NEVER dream of saying such a thing to anyone! What kind of mind thinks like that? This came from what I thought was a sweet 70-80ish old lady, who rarely says a word to us. When I heard that I wanted to drive down with my cane and give her a free colonoscopy.
Adding to this, people here are still confusing me with my partner and vice versa. (We all look alike, you know, gay, wheelchairs, under 65...) and one day when she stood from her chair to get our mail out of the box a fellow resident says, "So you CAN stand up." He had met me a month before and I explained my MS; he has had a stroke. Ever since he saw my partner stand, he gives me a dirty look. SERIOUSLY??
I will never understand what motivates people who must question another's physical limitations. It is none of their business, they are not the health patrol, and have they no empathy?
Oh, the things I would like to say to these people and their failing bodies and minds. (They see themselves as perfectly fit. Uh, you have told me that same thing every day for 6 months now. Why exactly are YOU here again? But no, I have MANNERS.) These people are old enough to know better!
Now, I was used to getting stupid comments at my job from young, healthy people. "Why the gimp stick?" "That scooter looks like fun! Can I try it?" Fortunately, I was around them long enough to see Karma grab them by the, well, grab them. The "gimp stick" commenter ended up on crutches after a skiing accident and what a cry baby! "I'm sorry. Now I know how YOU feel." Really? I don't think so, here is how I feel: I will still be needing a cane long after your leg has healed and you will be the same assh, er, jerk, that you will probably always be.
Ha ha, excuse me, I shouldn't laugh, but the scooter comment guy broke BOTH legs in a car accident and HE apologized, was so nice to me, until he healed and then he was a bigger jerk than before---why? Well, of course, because look at HIM! He suffered and beat his problem while *I* still baby myself with a cane.
Why I thought older, more experienced people would treat us differently is beyond me now. I have dealt with all this for 20 years, my partner does not have callouses yet. Good thing I respect my elders, but I am beginning to wonder why I should.
My caregivers here, at my assisted living home, are many, and vary in experience, understanding of English, and attitude. I'm sure that would be the same in any job. Three I have had since I moved here in 2008. Today one of those was with me when I moved my non-cooperative left leg. Her back was to me, so she missed it, and I was totally not expecting anything so wonderful since I got about three hours of sleep last night.
"I just moved my LEG!" I shouted.
"Huh?" she replied.
"I moved my left leg, my foot moved!"
She looked at me without expression, "Is that special?" (IS THAT SPECIAL???!!!)
The first time it happened my caregiver hoisted my walker (photo is on my blog) with glee!
"You don't know that I can't move my left leg?"
She does a sort of laugh, "No." (I was dumbfounded. She has lifted me daily, was called when I fell and medics came, has been here since day one.)
"Why do you think I can't walk with this walker?" I ask her.
Again the snide laugh, "I don't know."
"You don't know."
"Nope." She walks away.
I sit there saying over and over, "Unbelievable." I say nothing further to her the rest of the hour but "Bye."
What I really wanted to ask was: Am I that common here, you have so many other clients, that my health issues are completely unimportant to you and extremely forgettable? Sigh.
Besides my personal strides (no pun intended) (well, maybe) as of late, my partner has been walking with her walker down to our dining room (a far trip for us)!! She has been doing her own exercises and walking a little longer each day, as is possible. We were sooo excited!
What did a resident here say to her? "I see you are walking. I knew you were faking it."
SERIOUSLY?? Look, I have not always had MS and I have not always been disabled even with MS, and I would NEVER dream of saying such a thing to anyone! What kind of mind thinks like that? This came from what I thought was a sweet 70-80ish old lady, who rarely says a word to us. When I heard that I wanted to drive down with my cane and give her a free colonoscopy.
Adding to this, people here are still confusing me with my partner and vice versa. (We all look alike, you know, gay, wheelchairs, under 65...) and one day when she stood from her chair to get our mail out of the box a fellow resident says, "So you CAN stand up." He had met me a month before and I explained my MS; he has had a stroke. Ever since he saw my partner stand, he gives me a dirty look. SERIOUSLY??
I will never understand what motivates people who must question another's physical limitations. It is none of their business, they are not the health patrol, and have they no empathy?
Oh, the things I would like to say to these people and their failing bodies and minds. (They see themselves as perfectly fit. Uh, you have told me that same thing every day for 6 months now. Why exactly are YOU here again? But no, I have MANNERS.) These people are old enough to know better!
Now, I was used to getting stupid comments at my job from young, healthy people. "Why the gimp stick?" "That scooter looks like fun! Can I try it?" Fortunately, I was around them long enough to see Karma grab them by the, well, grab them. The "gimp stick" commenter ended up on crutches after a skiing accident and what a cry baby! "I'm sorry. Now I know how YOU feel." Really? I don't think so, here is how I feel: I will still be needing a cane long after your leg has healed and you will be the same assh, er, jerk, that you will probably always be.
Ha ha, excuse me, I shouldn't laugh, but the scooter comment guy broke BOTH legs in a car accident and HE apologized, was so nice to me, until he healed and then he was a bigger jerk than before---why? Well, of course, because look at HIM! He suffered and beat his problem while *I* still baby myself with a cane.
Why I thought older, more experienced people would treat us differently is beyond me now. I have dealt with all this for 20 years, my partner does not have callouses yet. Good thing I respect my elders, but I am beginning to wonder why I should.
My caregivers here, at my assisted living home, are many, and vary in experience, understanding of English, and attitude. I'm sure that would be the same in any job. Three I have had since I moved here in 2008. Today one of those was with me when I moved my non-cooperative left leg. Her back was to me, so she missed it, and I was totally not expecting anything so wonderful since I got about three hours of sleep last night.
"I just moved my LEG!" I shouted.
"Huh?" she replied.
"I moved my left leg, my foot moved!"
She looked at me without expression, "Is that special?" (IS THAT SPECIAL???!!!)
The first time it happened my caregiver hoisted my walker (photo is on my blog) with glee!
"You don't know that I can't move my left leg?"
She does a sort of laugh, "No." (I was dumbfounded. She has lifted me daily, was called when I fell and medics came, has been here since day one.)
"Why do you think I can't walk with this walker?" I ask her.
Again the snide laugh, "I don't know."
"You don't know."
"Nope." She walks away.
I sit there saying over and over, "Unbelievable." I say nothing further to her the rest of the hour but "Bye."
What I really wanted to ask was: Am I that common here, you have so many other clients, that my health issues are completely unimportant to you and extremely forgettable? Sigh.
Besides my personal strides (no pun intended) (well, maybe) as of late, my partner has been walking with her walker down to our dining room (a far trip for us)!! She has been doing her own exercises and walking a little longer each day, as is possible. We were sooo excited!
What did a resident here say to her? "I see you are walking. I knew you were faking it."
SERIOUSLY?? Look, I have not always had MS and I have not always been disabled even with MS, and I would NEVER dream of saying such a thing to anyone! What kind of mind thinks like that? This came from what I thought was a sweet 70-80ish old lady, who rarely says a word to us. When I heard that I wanted to drive down with my cane and give her a free colonoscopy.
Adding to this, people here are still confusing me with my partner and vice versa. (We all look alike, you know, gay, wheelchairs, under 65...) and one day when she stood from her chair to get our mail out of the box a fellow resident says, "So you CAN stand up." He had met me a month before and I explained my MS; he has had a stroke. Ever since he saw my partner stand, he gives me a dirty look. SERIOUSLY??
I will never understand what motivates people who must question another's physical limitations. It is none of their business, they are not the health patrol, and have they no empathy?
Oh, the things I would like to say to these people and their failing bodies and minds. (They see themselves as perfectly fit. Uh, you have told me that same thing every day for 6 months now. Why exactly are YOU here again? But no, I have MANNERS.) These people are old enough to know better!
Now, I was used to getting stupid comments at my job from young, healthy people. "Why the gimp stick?" "That scooter looks like fun! Can I try it?" Fortunately, I was around them long enough to see Karma grab them by the, well, grab them. The "gimp stick" commenter ended up on crutches after a skiing accident and what a cry baby! "I'm sorry. Now I know how YOU feel." Really? I don't think so, here is how I feel: I will still be needing a cane long after your leg has healed and you will be the same assh, er, jerk, that you will probably always be.
Ha ha, excuse me, I shouldn't laugh, but the scooter comment guy broke BOTH legs in a car accident and HE apologized, was so nice to me, until he healed and then he was a bigger jerk than before---why? Well, of course, because look at HIM! He suffered and beat his problem while *I* still baby myself with a cane.
Why I thought older, more experienced people would treat us differently is beyond me now. I have dealt with all this for 20 years, my partner does not have callouses yet. Good thing I respect my elders, but I am beginning to wonder why I should.
My caregivers here, at my assisted living home, are many, and vary in experience, understanding of English, and attitude. I'm sure that would be the same in any job. Three I have had since I moved here in 2008. Today one of those was with me when I moved my non-cooperative left leg. Her back was to me, so she missed it, and I was totally not expecting anything so wonderful since I got about three hours of sleep last night.
"I just moved my LEG!" I shouted.
"Huh?" she replied.
"I moved my left leg, my foot moved!"
She looked at me without expression, "Is that special?" (IS THAT SPECIAL???!!!)
The first time it happened my caregiver hoisted my walker (photo is on my blog) with glee!
"You don't know that I can't move my left leg?"
She does a sort of laugh, "No." (I was dumbfounded. She has lifted me daily, was called when I fell and medics came, has been here since day one.)
"Why do you think I can't walk with this walker?" I ask her.
Again the snide laugh, "I don't know."
"You don't know."
"Nope." She walks away.
I sit there saying over and over, "Unbelievable." I say nothing further to her the rest of the hour but "Bye."
What I really wanted to ask was: Am I that common here, you have so many other clients, that my health issues are completely unimportant to you and extremely forgettable? Sigh.
Besides my personal strides (no pun intended) (well, maybe) as of late, my partner has been walking with her walker down to our dining room (a far trip for us)!! She has been doing her own exercises and walking a little longer each day, as is possible. We were sooo excited!
What did a resident here say to her? "I see you are walking. I knew you were faking it."
SERIOUSLY?? Look, I have not always had MS and I have not always been disabled even with MS, and I would NEVER dream of saying such a thing to anyone! What kind of mind thinks like that? This came from what I thought was a sweet 70-80ish old lady, who rarely says a word to us. When I heard that I wanted to drive down with my cane and give her a free colonoscopy.
Adding to this, people here are still confusing me with my partner and vice versa. (We all look alike, you know, gay, wheelchairs, under 65...) and one day when she stood from her chair to get our mail out of the box a fellow resident says, "So you CAN stand up." He had met me a month before and I explained my MS; he has had a stroke. Ever since he saw my partner stand, he gives me a dirty look. SERIOUSLY??
I will never understand what motivates people who must question another's physical limitations. It is none of their business, they are not the health patrol, and have they no empathy?
Oh, the things I would like to say to these people and their failing bodies and minds. (They see themselves as perfectly fit. Uh, you have told me that same thing every day for 6 months now. Why exactly are YOU here again? But no, I have MANNERS.) These people are old enough to know better!
Now, I was used to getting stupid comments at my job from young, healthy people. "Why the gimp stick?" "That scooter looks like fun! Can I try it?" Fortunately, I was around them long enough to see Karma grab them by the, well, grab them. The "gimp stick" commenter ended up on crutches after a skiing accident and what a cry baby! "I'm sorry. Now I know how YOU feel." Really? I don't think so, here is how I feel: I will still be needing a cane long after your leg has healed and you will be the same assh, er, jerk, that you will probably always be.
Ha ha, excuse me, I shouldn't laugh, but the scooter comment guy broke BOTH legs in a car accident and HE apologized, was so nice to me, until he healed and then he was a bigger jerk than before---why? Well, of course, because look at HIM! He suffered and beat his problem while *I* still baby myself with a cane.
Why I thought older, more experienced people would treat us differently is beyond me now. I have dealt with all this for 20 years, my partner does not have callouses yet. Good thing I respect my elders, but I am beginning to wonder why I should.
My caregivers here, at my assisted living home, are many, and vary in experience, understanding of English, and attitude. I'm sure that would be the same in any job. Three I have had since I moved here in 2008. Today one of those was with me when I moved my non-cooperative left leg. Her back was to me, so she missed it, and I was totally not expecting anything so wonderful since I got about three hours of sleep last night.
"I just moved my LEG!" I shouted.
"Huh?" she replied.
"I moved my left leg, my foot moved!"
She looked at me without expression, "Is that special?" (IS THAT SPECIAL???!!!)
The first time it happened my caregiver hoisted my walker (photo is on my blog) with glee!
"You don't know that I can't move my left leg?"
She does a sort of laugh, "No." (I was dumbfounded. She has lifted me daily, was called when I fell and medics came, has been here since day one.)
"Why do you think I can't walk with this walker?" I ask her.
Again the snide laugh, "I don't know."
"You don't know."
"Nope." She walks away.
I sit there saying over and over, "Unbelievable." I say nothing further to her the rest of the hour but "Bye."
What I really wanted to ask was: Am I that common here, you have so many other clients, that my health issues are completely unimportant to you and extremely forgettable? Sigh.
Besides my personal strides (no pun intended) (well, maybe) as of late, my partner has been walking with her walker down to our dining room (a far trip for us)!! She has been doing her own exercises and walking a little longer each day, as is possible. We were sooo excited!
What did a resident here say to her? "I see you are walking. I knew you were faking it."
SERIOUSLY?? Look, I have not always had MS and I have not always been disabled even with MS, and I would NEVER dream of saying such a thing to anyone! What kind of mind thinks like that? This came from what I thought was a sweet 70-80ish old lady, who rarely says a word to us. When I heard that I wanted to drive down with my cane and give her a free colonoscopy.
Adding to this, people here are still confusing me with my partner and vice versa. (We all look alike, you know, gay, wheelchairs, under 65...) and one day when she stood from her chair to get our mail out of the box a fellow resident says, "So you CAN stand up." He had met me a month before and I explained my MS; he has had a stroke. Ever since he saw my partner stand, he gives me a dirty look. SERIOUSLY??
I will never understand what motivates people who must question another's physical limitations. It is none of their business, they are not the health patrol, and have they no empathy?
Oh, the things I would like to say to these people and their failing bodies and minds. (They see themselves as perfectly fit. Uh, you have told me that same thing every day for 6 months now. Why exactly are YOU here again? But no, I have MANNERS.) These people are old enough to know better!
Now, I was used to getting stupid comments at my job from young, healthy people. "Why the gimp stick?" "That scooter looks like fun! Can I try it?" Fortunately, I was around them long enough to see Karma grab them by the, well, grab them. The "gimp stick" commenter ended up on crutches after a skiing accident and what a cry baby! "I'm sorry. Now I know how YOU feel." Really? I don't think so, here is how I feel: I will still be needing a cane long after your leg has healed and you will be the same assh, er, jerk, that you will probably always be.
Ha ha, excuse me, I shouldn't laugh, but the scooter comment guy broke BOTH legs in a car accident and HE apologized, was so nice to me, until he healed and then he was a bigger jerk than before---why? Well, of course, because look at HIM! He suffered and beat his problem while *I* still baby myself with a cane.
Why I thought older, more experienced people would treat us differently is beyond me now. I have dealt with all this for 20 years, my partner does not have callouses yet. Good thing I respect my elders, but I am beginning to wonder why I should.
My caregivers here, at my assisted living home, are many, and vary in experience, understanding of English, and attitude. I'm sure that would be the same in any job. Three I have had since I moved here in 2008. Today one of those was with me when I moved my non-cooperative left leg. Her back was to me, so she missed it, and I was totally not expecting anything so wonderful since I got about three hours of sleep last night.
"I just moved my LEG!" I shouted.
"Huh?" she replied.
"I moved my left leg, my foot moved!"
She looked at me without expression, "Is that special?" (IS THAT SPECIAL???!!!)
The first time it happened my caregiver hoisted my walker (photo is on my blog) with glee!
"You don't know that I can't move my left leg?"
She does a sort of laugh, "No." (I was dumbfounded. She has lifted me daily, was called when I fell and medics came, has been here since day one.)
"Why do you think I can't walk with this walker?" I ask her.
Again the snide laugh, "I don't know."
"You don't know."
"Nope." She walks away.
I sit there saying over and over, "Unbelievable." I say nothing further to her the rest of the hour but "Bye."
What I really wanted to ask was: Am I that common here, you have so many other clients, that my health issues are completely unimportant to you and extremely forgettable? Sigh.
Besides my personal strides (no pun intended) (well, maybe) as of late, my partner has been walking with her walker down to our dining room (a far trip for us)!! She has been doing her own exercises and walking a little longer each day, as is possible. We were sooo excited!
What did a resident here say to her? "I see you are walking. I knew you were faking it."
SERIOUSLY?? Look, I have not always had MS and I have not always been disabled even with MS, and I would NEVER dream of saying such a thing to anyone! What kind of mind thinks like that? This came from what I thought was a sweet 70-80ish old lady, who rarely says a word to us. When I heard that I wanted to drive down with my cane and give her a free colonoscopy.
Adding to this, people here are still confusing me with my partner and vice versa. (We all look alike, you know, gay, wheelchairs, under 65...) and one day when she stood from her chair to get our mail out of the box a fellow resident says, "So you CAN stand up." He had met me a month before and I explained my MS; he has had a stroke. Ever since he saw my partner stand, he gives me a dirty look. SERIOUSLY??
I will never understand what motivates people who must question another's physical limitations. It is none of their business, they are not the health patrol, and have they no empathy?
Oh, the things I would like to say to these people and their failing bodies and minds. (They see themselves as perfectly fit. Uh, you have told me that same thing every day for 6 months now. Why exactly are YOU here again? But no, I have MANNERS.) These people are old enough to know better!
Now, I was used to getting stupid comments at my job from young, healthy people. "Why the gimp stick?" "That scooter looks like fun! Can I try it?" Fortunately, I was around them long enough to see Karma grab them by the, well, grab them. The "gimp stick" commenter ended up on crutches after a skiing accident and what a cry baby! "I'm sorry. Now I know how YOU feel." Really? I don't think so, here is how I feel: I will still be needing a cane long after your leg has healed and you will be the same assh, er, jerk, that you will probably always be.
Ha ha, excuse me, I shouldn't laugh, but the scooter comment guy broke BOTH legs in a car accident and HE apologized, was so nice to me, until he healed and then he was a bigger jerk than before---why? Well, of course, because look at HIM! He suffered and beat his problem while *I* still baby myself with a cane.
Why I thought older, more experienced people would treat us differently is beyond me now. I have dealt with all this for 20 years, my partner does not have callouses yet. Good thing I respect my elders, but I am beginning to wonder why I should.
My caregivers here, at my assisted living home, are many, and vary in experience, understanding of English, and attitude. I'm sure that would be the same in any job. Three I have had since I moved here in 2008. Today one of those was with me when I moved my non-cooperative left leg. Her back was to me, so she missed it, and I was totally not expecting anything so wonderful since I got about three hours of sleep last night.
"I just moved my LEG!" I shouted.
"Huh?" she replied.
"I moved my left leg, my foot moved!"
She looked at me without expression, "Is that special?" (IS THAT SPECIAL???!!!)
The first time it happened my caregiver hoisted my walker (photo is on my blog) with glee!
"You don't know that I can't move my left leg?"
She does a sort of laugh, "No." (I was dumbfounded. She has lifted me daily, was called when I fell and medics came, has been here since day one.)
"Why do you think I can't walk with this walker?" I ask her.
Again the snide laugh, "I don't know."
"You don't know."
"Nope." She walks away.
I sit there saying over and over, "Unbelievable." I say nothing further to her the rest of the hour but "Bye."
What I really wanted to ask was: Am I that common here, you have so many other clients, that my health issues are completely unimportant to you and extremely forgettable? Sigh.
Besides my personal strides (no pun intended) (well, maybe) as of late, my partner has been walking with her walker down to our dining room (a far trip for us)!! She has been doing her own exercises and walking a little longer each day, as is possible. We were sooo excited!
What did a resident here say to her? "I see you are walking. I knew you were faking it."
SERIOUSLY?? Look, I have not always had MS and I have not always been disabled even with MS, and I would NEVER dream of saying such a thing to anyone! What kind of mind thinks like that? This came from what I thought was a sweet 70-80ish old lady, who rarely says a word to us. When I heard that I wanted to drive down with my cane and give her a free colonoscopy.
Adding to this, people here are still confusing me with my partner and vice versa. (We all look alike, you know, gay, wheelchairs, under 65...) and one day when she stood from her chair to get our mail out of the box a fellow resident says, "So you CAN stand up." He had met me a month before and I explained my MS; he has had a stroke. Ever since he saw my partner stand, he gives me a dirty look. SERIOUSLY??
I will never understand what motivates people who must question another's physical limitations. It is none of their business, they are not the health patrol, and have they no empathy?
Oh, the things I would like to say to these people and their failing bodies and minds. (They see themselves as perfectly fit. Uh, you have told me that same thing every day for 6 months now. Why exactly are YOU here again? But no, I have MANNERS.) These people are old enough to know better!
Now, I was used to getting stupid comments at my job from young, healthy people. "Why the gimp stick?" "That scooter looks like fun! Can I try it?" Fortunately, I was around them long enough to see Karma grab them by the, well, grab them. The "gimp stick" commenter ended up on crutches after a skiing accident and what a cry baby! "I'm sorry. Now I know how YOU feel." Really? I don't think so, here is how I feel: I will still be needing a cane long after your leg has healed and you will be the same assh, er, jerk, that you will probably always be.
Ha ha, excuse me, I shouldn't laugh, but the scooter comment guy broke BOTH legs in a car accident and HE apologized, was so nice to me, until he healed and then he was a bigger jerk than before---why? Well, of course, because look at HIM! He suffered and beat his problem while *I* still baby myself with a cane.
Why I thought older, more experienced people would treat us differently is beyond me now. I have dealt with all this for 20 years, my partner does not have callouses yet. Good thing I respect my elders, but I am beginning to wonder why I should.
My caregivers here, at my assisted living home, are many, and vary in experience, understanding of English, and attitude. I'm sure that would be the same in any job. Three I have had since I moved here in 2008. Today one of those was with me when I moved my non-cooperative left leg. Her back was to me, so she missed it, and I was totally not expecting anything so wonderful since I got about three hours of sleep last night.
"I just moved my LEG!" I shouted.
"Huh?" she replied.
"I moved my left leg, my foot moved!"
She looked at me without expression, "Is that special?" (IS THAT SPECIAL???!!!)
The first time it happened my caregiver hoisted my walker (photo is on my blog) with glee!
"You don't know that I can't move my left leg?"
She does a sort of laugh, "No." (I was dumbfounded. She has lifted me daily, was called when I fell and medics came, has been here since day one.)
"Why do you think I can't walk with this walker?" I ask her.
Again the snide laugh, "I don't know."
"You don't know."
"Nope." She walks away.
I sit there saying over and over, "Unbelievable." I say nothing further to her the rest of the hour but "Bye."
What I really wanted to ask was: Am I that common here, you have so many other clients, that my health issues are completely unimportant to you and extremely forgettable? Sigh.
Besides my personal strides (no pun intended) (well, maybe) as of late, my partner has been walking with her walker down to our dining room (a far trip for us)!! She has been doing her own exercises and walking a little longer each day, as is possible. We were sooo excited!
What did a resident here say to her? "I see you are walking. I knew you were faking it."
SERIOUSLY?? Look, I have not always had MS and I have not always been disabled even with MS, and I would NEVER dream of saying such a thing to anyone! What kind of mind thinks like that? This came from what I thought was a sweet 70-80ish old lady, who rarely says a word to us. When I heard that I wanted to drive down with my cane and give her a free colonoscopy.
Adding to this, people here are still confusing me with my partner and vice versa. (We all look alike, you know, gay, wheelchairs, under 65...) and one day when she stood from her chair to get our mail out of the box a fellow resident says, "So you CAN stand up." He had met me a month before and I explained my MS; he has had a stroke. Ever since he saw my partner stand, he gives me a dirty look. SERIOUSLY??
I will never understand what motivates people who must question another's physical limitations. It is none of their business, they are not the health patrol, and have they no empathy?
Oh, the things I would like to say to these people and their failing bodies and minds. (They see themselves as perfectly fit. Uh, you have told me that same thing every day for 6 months now. Why exactly are YOU here again? But no, I have MANNERS.) These people are old enough to know better!
Now, I was used to getting stupid comments at my job from young, healthy people. "Why the gimp stick?" "That scooter looks like fun! Can I try it?" Fortunately, I was around them long enough to see Karma grab them by the, well, grab them. The "gimp stick" commenter ended up on crutches after a skiing accident and what a cry baby! "I'm sorry. Now I know how YOU feel." Really? I don't think so, here is how I feel: I will still be needing a cane long after your leg has healed and you will be the same assh, er, jerk, that you will probably always be.
Ha ha, excuse me, I shouldn't laugh, but the scooter comment guy broke BOTH legs in a car accident and HE apologized, was so nice to me, until he healed and then he was a bigger jerk than before---why? Well, of course, because look at HIM! He suffered and beat his problem while *I* still baby myself with a cane.
Why I thought older, more experienced people would treat us differently is beyond me now. I have dealt with all this for 20 years, my partner does not have callouses yet. Good thing I respect my elders, but I am beginning to wonder why I should.
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