This is the time of year, I dread as a disabled person. I'm trying hard to take care of outside errands before snow graces my presence. When snow comes down, I have to be even more careful because if I fall that could be a disaster. I get annoyed with small business owners that don't shovel their business entrances or sidewalks so that I can enter their establishments and support them. I switched hairdressers because of this.
The guy that shovels my driveway is great. (And yes, he is a brother. I'm all for supporting black-owned businesses.) He is really good about this and will come by three or four times a day to make sure that I can get out of my driveway. He'll call ahead of time to ask me if I have any place to go on heavy snowfall days.
The only thing I can't plan for this time of year: rain. That's a whole different beast. I have to walk very carefully. The soles of my shoes plus water equals a MAJOR disaster. I have to tread very carefully and if I know in advance it is raining; I don't go out.
One day, I got caught in a heavy and unexpected rainstorm with my daughters during a shopping trip. I couldn't run to my car because I walk a bit slower these days with a leg brace and an oversized shoe to accommodate it because of my disability. So I walked back slowly and I worried about the toll the water would take on my hair. I felt like I was walking in slower-than-slow motion. I kept my focus on my car which I could see off in the distance. My eyes squinted to keep the execess water out of them. My youngest, who was running to the car with her sister, came back for me. Holding my hand, she accompanied me back to the car. She also was a hair victim casualty. My eldest ran to the car and opened the doors for us. Once in the car, we were safe and I breathed a sigh of relief.
For a brief moment, I knew what Superman goes through with kryptonite. I didn't melt. I was powerless for a moment, but I was now back in stride again.
Posted By: Marsha Jones
Monday, November 16th 2009 at 8:40AM
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