Re: aids/embarrassment

May 13, 2000

I used to tell people it was ok for me to walk the way I did because I

had a medical excuse. Of course, sometimes I said it was a football injury.

But you are more patient than I am. I get sick of people saying dumb stuff

to me. I had someone tell me once that I was one of God's special people

because I had a disability. I don't believe in a God that hurts people.

Then there were a few people I've met that tell me that I'm being punished

for the sins of my forefathers. Then there is the one about my ancestors

being from Cornwall and they were probably druids. I told them it wasn't

possible because there are not oak trees.

Most of the time I can take things with the grain of salt, however,

there are times I just want to..............well, I better end....................kathy

Ronnie Grove wrote:

Hey!

Am I on a roll, or what? This ole' soapbox is sure getting a workout

tonight. Embarrassment?

Guess this is just one more thing that makes us all different. Maybe

if we would try to think of it more in terms of attitude and not embarrassment

it would make it all easier. No one would expect to see you running

around naked if you had clothes to wear, so why would you choose to wobble

around on wet noodles when God gave us canes, braces, walkers, and chairs? Do

I know what I am talking about? How about a 16 year old kid that

had to have a hearing aid? A young girl that couldn't use the phone

and had to ask for help? A fairly young woman that had a brace and

then a cane. Hey! It made me whole. I didn't like it,

but it was better than being isolated as so often happens when you are

different. I have

been so fortunate my whole life. My mother insisted I continue regular

school when we had a deaf school only 50 miles away. No one told

me I was different or special so I never thought I was. My friends

at school thought it was neat that I had a hearing aid and could finally

hear what they were saying. They never left me out of anything.

Over time, when they learned I was reading lips, it did become a fun thing

with them to turn their head when they didn't want me to hear. But

I understood it was an ok thing, not meant to be mean. Attitude.

The people at the wellness center thought it was great that I didn't consider

my "funny walk" a handicap to my lifestyle. That's who I am now.

You got a problem with that, you got a bigger problem that that!

Closed caption TV, TDD for the phone, built up shoe. Attitude.

I just never made a big deal of it and no one else ever did. I know

it's hard. Not everyone can do it. But I think in the end most

people accept you the same way you accept yourself. If it is a pity

party you seek, then a pity party you shall reap. How can anyone

feel sorry for you if you don't feel sorry for yourself? Of

couse it's hard. There are times I hate it! There are times

I think of all I have had to give up, do without, change and that gets

me depressed. So who wants to be depressed? Most peole are

just about as happy as they make up their mind to be. So come on.

Let's get happy!

May 17, 2000

Ronnie,

I just read your posting about attitude. I couldn't agree more! My walker

and I are familiar to everyone who sees me frequently and when I am able

to carry it, they are excited for me. Others seem to pay no attention,

but children will look at me, especially if I am walking while carrying

the walker. None of them has really asked me anything about it. It really

seems that people accept that it is part of me, and it is. I am not changing

my life view to make someone else comfortable. Thank God, I am surrounded

by people who care, or don't mind.

Mike Gray