Re: Earthlings response to our helpful devices

[Guest guest]

Maureen:

I am so sorry for your unpleasant experiences of " earthlings " response to

your cane/walker etc.

I have had the exact opposite. In fact I plan on writing to a columnist

from Newsday about all the strangers that have helped me...without me asking for

help. I must admit that my walkers are decorated with butterfly decals and I

have a bicycle horn on each walker. People seem to focus on the decorated

walker rather than me. I think that the kid's responses are because they

haven't

seen a person with a walker....so when a kid looks at my walker I ask them if

they would like to honk the horn, and I honk it. I have made many friends

with my " crazy walkers. "

Last week I was waiting on the sidewalk, in a small shopping mall, for the

traffic to stop so I could cross the street. A woman, a perfect stranger,

went out into the middle of the street and held up her hands, like a traffic

cop.

Every car stopped as she waved me to cross the street. I must admit that I

was a little awkward about everything stopping for me....but was overwhelmed

with a stranger's kindness.

Friends have told me that others have told them that they admire my

determination.

Each day I try to find an opportunity and know that a challenge is usually

attached. So often the challenges are the doors. To be handicapped accessible

doors have to be wide enough for a wheelchair....nothing about the weight of

the door...most stores do not seem to have the " buttons " to use, but it seems

that someone always appears to help.

Sorry this is so long, but I had to share my wonderful experiences with

strangers helping me.

Hope that everyone is having a lots of good days.

Bebe