Whle the gang's away, I need to vent.

July 2, 2006

Well, nowt else going on with the lists, so sit back, read and digest.

Lin and I were invited to a 60th birthday celebration (yes, I know WHO would

invite US?) at a local pub in town.

We got ready, dressed to the nines, present/gift and card grasped and drove over

to the pub, excited about having a good night out with friends, and to celebrate

an equally good friend reaching the 60 mark!

Sadly, the party was the same day as England lost out in the World Cup.

So, as is typical on such occasions the pub was stowed out with supporters all

watching on large screens.

Equally sadly, as is fitting on such occasions, fighting broke out and spilled

outside of the pub.

When we got there, there was police vans all over and a veritable army of

officers!

We pulled into the entrance of the car park and asked an officer if it was safe

to go in. He took one look at Lin and I, summed up the situation and said, " Not

really! "

We parked up and deliberated. Should we, should we not........ risk walking the

gauntlet of drinkers and trouble makers?

We watched 'average' size guests nervously walk past the crowd. Nobody gave

them a second look.

Now, my moan.....

....... if WE had tried to walk past the assembled drunken mass, we KNOW we would

not have done so as uneventful as our Average Size friends.

Even if we had managed to catch the eye of one of the Average Size friends and

got them to act as a sort of 'escort' into the place, we honestly don't think

even THEY were safe, nor could they do very much to prevent any anticipated

reaction from the crowd.

During the evening there was a second match screened, so most of the rabble

would have eventually gone back into the pub, consumed even more alcohol and be

even worse at the end of the evening.

We realised that even if we HAD gone in, we would have faced even MORE problems,

getting out and to our car.

My moan......

I know it is an obvious moan, but I still need to vent it. Why oh why, can't WE

live in society as inconspicuously as Mr. Average? Why do we always have to

plan WHERE we go, WHEN we go and HOW we get back out again?

Why do we always have to have 360 degree vision and why can't we just blend in

like everyone else?

My frustration....

Yes, frustrated at the scenario described and the constraints such occassions

place upon us. BUT, my biggest frustration is having to APOLOGISE to our hosts

for being to shit scared to enter the building and be part of the festivities!

Having to TRY to explain to Average Height people, the problems we small

statured people have. And to do so in such a way, that they, the Average size

folks, at least gain a modicum of understanding of our situation.

We really did feel as if we had let down our friends, very badly. But we also

are aware (though somewhat self unconvincingly) that society let us down and it

was NOT our fault.

End of vent. Thank you for listening.

Fred

July 6, 2006

Fred,

Thank you for expressing your frustration.

Sometimes my friends don't understand why I ask so many questions. I am in a

wheelchair so I ask enough questions to consider whether it is safe or too risky

for me to engage in certain activities.

I am also aware of my surroundings at all time. People think that I am this

keen observer and they don't realize that I need to know the exits and the nooks

and crannies that are in my environment.

This past weekend I went to my sister's wedding and I wanted to dance so I

grabbed this guy's hand and took him out to the dance floor. He was concerned

that I was going to get hurt but he didn't know that I had already made a mental

path for us.

Even while dancing, I was aware of who was behind me and who was behind that

person just in case some pushing or accidental tripping occurred.

Thanks for sharing!

Nathasha

Fred Short <mail@...> wrote: