Re: airplane lifts + home help

August 20, 2001

Gretchen,

Ft Lauderdale International Airport did not have a lift for small planes.

The things you mentioned were loaded via the stairs. They did have a chair

lift at Tallahassee, but according to the flight crew that was the only

airport they knew that had one. I did manage to get down the steps when I

got there, but would not have attempted to climb them again. Incidentally

they did have a boarding chair and they sent two people to carry me down the

steps in it. I would not allow that as it would have been unsafe for both

them and me. Two people do not carry a 300 lb person down steep unsteady

steps!!

The rental deal does not work. You usually get someone that robs you blind

and won't pay their share. I know too many that have been that route. In

fact I own a rental house and was giving the renter a break to do things.

He is a licensed in all aspects of repair. As of today, he owes me 1650.00

labor, 80.00 late fees, and a months rent and is moving.

As for " friends " most of them disappeared when my CMT progressed to where I

could not do things with them. They have their own jobs and families. You

are correct when you say things have changed over the years. Years ago, in

my area, people helped each other. Now they are too busy and what they do

you have to pay for.

----- Original Message -----

From: Gretchen Glick

ers at groups

Sent: Monday, August 20, 2001 11:32 AM

Subject: [] airplane lifts + home help

Hey Lamar,

I thought all night about your post. All airplanes have lifts/elevators.

This is how all the food, blankets, pillows, etc. loaded on. I had first

hand experience with this on my departure from Rarotonga last April.

Since the departure time was 3 am (!) I had already taken my meds (to

get back on West Coast time), so I was a bit 'woozy'. The plane was way

out on the hot tropical tarmack...the airline personnel asked if I could

walk up the steps, sure I thought, after handing my backpack and camera

bag to a flight attendant, 2 steps up, I got REAL dizzy, started to fall

backwards - they grabbed me, put me in a wheelchair and took me to the

other side of the plane - where the lift was being loaded with not only

other people, but tons of food and drinks, etc. This lift was huge. So,

up we go,way cool, it stops right level with the cabin door of the

galley, myself and other people were first taken to our seats, where I

promptly fell asleep, trying to promise myself to remember this

'adventure'. I woke up 2 hours out of LA and began madly journaling

about this, as this was a 'new experience' and I enjoyed seeing still

another aspect of the travel industry. Having CMT sure has given me more

opportunities to see life differently...and as a PS to that, while

watching others board via the tarmac and steps, down came those tropic

rains, and lol everybody on the plane was soaking wet.

Now, about home help, just a few thoughts, here there is a growing

trend, rent out part of one's place in exchange for yard work, house

work, etc. I have a number of great friends who I 'save' jobs for that

either I can't do or in my case don't know how. Or some people move to

smaller places; when my mother died I sold my childhood home which I

intended on keeping, but once I found this place - all on one floor I

loved it. I cannot change you or anyone, but I was feeling somewhat

'sad' for you. I do feel, personally, every problem does have a

solution. Having CMT since childhood had me thinking WAY outside the box

at an early age.

Thank god is is NOT 1965. I was 13 and in the throes of teenage CMT,

awful fatigue, rigidity, spasms, experiemntal treatment and meds, I

hated myself and everything about the world. The only thing good I had

going was a crush on my science teacher, which LOL netted me an A in

science - to my surprize!

Lamar, this is 2001 and things ARE Different, for us all. NO turning

back. I read all those 'cants' in your post - well I know one thing you

CAN DO and do well - you can really crunch numbers and statistics, like

what you gave me for the Fact Sheet and that has already helped so many.

Back to the airline, get your money back from Delta, if they won't give

you the $, get a voucher for a ticket and remember the lift.

And as for the 'handicapped'/'disabled'/ issue, I'm with Popeye, 'I Yam

What I Yam'!

~ Gretchen

August 20, 2001

-----Original Message-----

From: Lamar son <lls@...>

< >

Date: Monday, August 20, 2001 11:20 AM

Subject: Re: [] airplane lifts + home help

Incidentally

they did have a boarding chair and they sent two people to carry me down the

steps in it. I would not allow that as it would have been unsafe for both

them and me. Two people do not carry a 300 lb person down steep unsteady

steps!!

>>>>Lamar, no your CMT causes enough problems W/O having broken bones added!

<<<<

As for " friends " most of them disappeared when my CMT progressed to where I

could not do things with them.

>>>>Same here, half disapeared when I could no longer do things WITH them, the

other half, when I could no longer do things FOR them! Oh my! half+half=whole!

Yikes! I'm friendless! LOL <<<

You

are correct when you say things have changed over the years. Years ago, in

my area, people helped each other. Now they are too busy and what they do

you have to pay for.

>>>>>>>Yes, and pay dearly too! No one any more takes into consideration

some persons live on a very limited income, they should have a " clue " when doing

jobs for a handicapped/disabled person. But clue or not, money is the issue,

and most don't care if your disabled or not, if you eat this month or fix the

roof, get your medications refilled or fix your auto. They have never had to

make choices like that and never consider that another person may have to,

actually most don't care, that's your problems, not theirs, ~>Becky M.