I have heard so much crap about the abuse of those placards. No one abused mine, but if everyone followed laws, we wouldn't need cops at all.
I felt self-conscious all the time -- I was miserable, but didn't feel impaired
enough.
What if I was keeping the spot from someone in a wheelchair? Someone in more pain, or with less function? But it came down to either I parked there or just went home. If scamming the spots was as big an issue as I'd been led to believe (maybe it was just MI), then I'd have shown ID without complaining.
See, I've never heard that it was that big an issue in NorCal, at least; we have this odd headspace about stuff like this. I just figure that if the vehicle is marked as handicapped, someone to do with that vehicle earned that right. I go with assuming I'm not being scammed.
Also, truth to tell, I almost never have trouble finding an open handicapped space, even in a full lot. It's maybe one time out every fifty attempts, and usually in a small lot, where there are only two or three handicapped spaces total.
Also, I never felt and never do feel self-conscious about it. But I've been in a wheelchair full-time, long before ADA was passed, and then for nearly a year while it was being debated, and believe me, I ran over plenty of toes to make my point.
But the discomfort - that's on the good days, on bad days it's pure pain - that comes with MS is actually worse than what I remember from after my car accident. And this isn't going away; there's no fixing it. So I will use any small perks I can get, to make it easier. It helps to not give a shit what the world thinks about it, right up until the point where a badge/gun decides that maybe I should do cartwheels for him, and if I fall on my head trying, then I'm really entitled to my placard.
BTW, totally with you on the "what if someone more in need" thing. One a couple of occasions, coming up on the last space at the same time as a very elderly couple, I've backed off and waved them in.
Woot! If Vortex is picking you up, I'll likely be in the car too, since she's my hostess for the weekend.
I don't want to assume she will be--it's fine if it's easier to grab a shuttle. I'm getting in around 1:30 or so on Saturday the 22nd. I'm excited!
In terms of the whole debate about the handicapped spaces, my live-in Gram has a permit (she's turning 91 next month and has an artificial hip), and she doesn't drive. Even though I know it is 100% justified for me to park in a hc spot when we're together, I have to admit that I feel so weird about it, especially when I'm dropping her off or picking her up. I'm always convinced that as soon as I walk back out to my car (which at this point would be sans Gram, since she'd be inside), someone will jump at me and start yelling.
Dumb, I know.
But Kristin, if you're dropping her off or picking her up? The minute someone sees your 91-year-old grandmother, any yelling they're going to do will likely die on their lips. (edit: or just point at the building in which you've dropped her off. That should do it.)
The whole point for me is that someone to do with that vehicle earned the right to that placard. From there, I figure that's good enough to go on with, so I don't question them. The ones where I've been known to lose it are the little red Corvettes or SUVs with no visible placards or tags, in the space, with their hazards blinking.
I think it's a personal reaction. I just figure if the cop wants to power trip at me, he can have my MS, too.
Hell, it's not like *I* want it.
Deb, I mean more people who don't see me escorting her inside, but who see me coming out, alone, and heading to the car. Or vice versa--they see me parking in the spot before I've gone in to pick her up.
And I completely understand your reaction to the cop, btw. I can only imagine how frustrating that must be.
Though I do not have a comparable experience in terms of HC assumptions, I am well versed in dealing with other types of condescending assumptions. If one more person tells me that I obviously can't keep control of high school students since I look like one myself...etc. Dear god is it frustrating to be at conferences where my younger colleagues are given more respect because they look older. I have to fight so hard to be taken seriously. Oh dear. I'm ranting. I didn't mean to start ranting. (Just to be clear, I'm not implying this is anywhere near the same level of frustration as dealing with MS. Obviously I have it extremely easy in comparison.)
So I looked at pretty dresses for the F2F today! It was fun, and not at all rant-inducing.
I'm trying to find a shirt to go with my leather kilt for the F2F, some of the ones here look like possibilities. Any opinions?
Heh. ND, any except the velvet poet shirt. I like the black ruffles theme.
ND, I think instead of any of those shirts, we should hit Melrose, since I just struck out totally in my shopping trip.
