Mobility isn’t just a way to get around, it may also be finding someone who knows how to push you, as Michele explains with her husband as the helper.
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22)
The other day my husband surprised me with a special shopping trip to my favorite store–Dollar Tree. Yes, you read correctly, a dollar store. Not just any dollar store but one that truly measures up to its name–nothing in the store is over a dollar.
It did not take long before there was a damper on our special outing. As we approached the store’s door, we were immediately reminded as to why we stopped coming to this store. The sign next to the entrance of the store shows wheelchair accessible, but in reality one needs octopus arms to open the door. Then one must push the wheelchair into a smaller area crowded by gumball machines before you get to another door–to open the same way–in order to enter the store!
Of course no one even offered to help my dear husband as he struggled with the doors and my chair!
This alone usually spoils our little outings because of my husband’s frustrations with stores having total disregard towards those with mobility issues; but he was determined not to spoil my special day in my favorite store.
Except shopping with my husband is like an Olympic race to the finish line.
His idea of shopping is to get what you need as fast you can then find the shortest check-out. My idea of shopping is a quiet stroll through each aisle maybe stopping from time to time to look at an item or two then continue at my leisurely pace.
I have to give my husband some praise though; he did try his best to slow down when I would say, “Hold on, Jim, I want to see something here.” Then he abruptly stopped the forward motion and began to quickly move backwards as I held onto the chair for dear life and said, “Whoa, Nelly, wait, wait, wait a minute! Here it is!”
In all honesty I do enjoy going out with my husband although there are times I wish my mobility disability would not hinder enjoying our few and far between outings. Through the years I have learned not to allow the mobility obstacles cause me to become bitter and a recluse. I have learned to laugh at myself while in my mobility scooter I run down the displays stores place in the middle of the isles. My husband can always find me when he hears, “clean-up in isle 4”.
Oh, the joys of shopping with a mobility disability and a handicap (my hubby). Next time he surprises me with a special shopping trip I will need to remember my shin-guards, helmet, and seat belt!
Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to realize that things will not always work out as I plan, so I need to take things in stride and find the humor in my circumstance and be thankful in all things. Amen.
About the Author:
Michele Williams along with her husband of 38 years live nestled in a mountain community in eastern Pennsylvania. They have a beautiful grown daughter, caring son-in-law, an awesome teenage grandson and three furry children. Through the years Michele has been involved in various ministries including: pastor’s wife, teacher, public speaker, counselor, writer, children’s, women’s, and wellness ministries. Michele has experienced various life challenges including living with multiple chronic illnesses since 1985. Some of those include: Fibromyalgia, Osteoarthritis, Interstitial cystitis, IBS, Asthma, and Sleep Apnea. Michele has an encouraging and informative blog, at http://www.beelieveyoucan.net
When you go on a special shopping trip with a loved one, do you get discouraged when it does not go as well as you wished or do you go with the flow and find some humor in the situation?
So, many of us do use a wheelchair occasionally, if not full-time, and these are mobility devices with wheels. Which means we can fall out of them. . . or you can learn stunts. (smile). This short 2-minute video shows you how to do a spin in a wheelchair. -Lisa
My dear hubby is the same way in our Dollar Tree! We pull up outside the store and he will say, “OK, what do we need?” You cannot know what you need until you go in and see all of the things and dawdle looking at them. And trying to tell my husband to slow down, or I am done here now we can go is doubly aggravating because I am only 5 ft 1 standing- so I am shorter in the chair, and he is 6 ft 2 and a tad hard of hearing-all the way up there! But we have learned a special way of signaling, so he knows what I want; and sometimes an old fashioned quick kiss can diffuse a growing impatience
It is great to know that someone else has to work with a wheelchair and a shopping impaired husband! LOL
Sandra, I love that term – shopping impaired husband! I must use that term too! My husband and I are about a foot different in height as well. There are benefits…he can reach things at home without getting out a step stool and I can reach things without bending over! lol….
As a disabled RN who is now in a wheelchair full time, I would like to offer a suggestion about entering doors that do not automatically open. It works best for your chair pusher to open the door and then back you and the chair through the door, this way your chair holds the door open as you enter. This is also the best way to enter an elevator, so the chair will also keep the elevator door from closing on you or your mobility assistant.
Before I had my power chair, it was frustrating to have to have someone push my chair at my shopping pace and it made me feel guilty when I tried to shop at my leisure.
What do you do however when a place like a restaurant has an outside door, then a door for inside 3 feet away. That is where we get tangled!
Thank you Carolyn for your suggestion. We’ll have to try it. We just got my power scooter fixed and a lift on our van, so now I can use that after three years of having to use the wheelchair. You are right though, aboout having to shop with someone else pushing your chair. When I get to go to WalMart I tell my husband, “If you need me, just call my cell phone.” I love the freedom of shopping at my own pace.
I do have a question Carolyn, How do you open the doors while in your power chair? I find it difficult to open doors with my scooter.
Sandra, We get tangled too!