Automatic Doors

[Guest guest]

JoJo,

The next time you go to that store, just stop in the doorway with your walker in

the door's track. If you just stand there, the door will keep closing and

opening (without hurting your walker) until someone comes to see what's

happening. If a clerk comes, just smile and say, " No thank you. I'm waiting on

the manager " and just stand there.

Getting people's attention while having fun is a great way to liven up your day.

Vaughn

Re: Earthlings response to our helpful devices

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