Wheelchairs for EVERYONE
by "Sunny"

I have a scooter and I hate the sight of it. I would give it to someone who needs it more, tomorrow... I am glad I have it, however… I have been fortunate, and I haven't forgotten that.

On the other hand, I am ecstatic when I can get around a bit and NOT use it... I mean I get tired of driving up to a store front, parking in a no park zone and going in and getting whatever I can manage. But it gets boring after a few years.

Then there are the days when I need it desperately but I hear...."hey, (comments from outsiders) she looks great..." all the time I feel crummy and I end up being even crummier by the time I get home - and the trip may have cost me 2-5 days to recover to how I felt previous to the trip. Anyone out there been there?

So I love my scooter...

Then, I have to say that because of the peculiar effects RSD has on my body temperature, I have not used my scooter as I would like to. When it is too hot, I am in agony. When it is winter, I wouldn't dream of riding it. Anyone tried to ride snowdrifts? Slush? Anyone waited for the bus to take you to wherever you would like to go? Wait two hours? … RSD doesn't like temperature trials. Anything below 20 degrees becomes torture. Anything above 25 is agony (in my experience). So what am I supposed to wear when it is freezing, huh? And what am I supposed to do while waiting for transport to deliver the magic chair somewhere?

In the past, I would hop in my car and drive wherever, walk wherever and do whatever I fancied; and I could come home with whatever I wanted and go on to do something else after my job - like cook or do laundry, or go out. Nobody talks about this (I can understand why - it is too bloody painful). And I know the value about being positive ( I have been doing that for a long time!) and I know the value of smiling, and the value of "carrying on" and the value of being "OK" for the people around you (or even for strangers) … Because who wants to be burdened with what you have? RSD? … It takes too long to even begin to explain… their eyes glaze over if I say more than a few sentences!

I have not shopped properly for over five years. Why? Because I can't get through shopping in any store for long, including clothes and other stuff I would love to get. I really want to see what the heck is out there after all this time. I had a salesman laugh at me when I gaped at appliances because they had changed so much - and I wasn't buying; I was just astounded at what I saw.

I don't want to use the "thing" (the scooter) because I feel I have failed by not getting better. I hate being "crippled"( such an "unpolitical" word but that's how I feel, and who cares for the political niceties?) I don't want to offend anyone but... Ah well.

I get upset about the people who laugh because I see things I don't know about in the stores - simply because I haven't been to one for years... and have you noticed how they all seem to have turned into "megastores"? It is like being on another planet, getting out after so long.

I use a scooter because I have to. Deliveries are expensive.