[The wheelchair I’ve been using was a donation from the family of a woman who passed away recently. Although they could have chosen to sell the chair, or do something else with it, instead they donated it and made it possible for me to get one. I wanted to write them a note thanking them for their donation. I’ve edited out the name for the sake of their privacy, and using a stand in name in one place. Friends who read the letter suggested I post it on here for others to see and maybe help encourage other people to be generous with their inherited accessibility devices.]
Month: April 2017
This Chair Gives me Wings
Yesterday, for the first time in I don’t know how many years, I was able to experience nature that wasn’t immediately adjacent to a parking lot. I got to watch the sun setting gently as I made my way along the river and feel the wind in my face.
I can’t remember the last time I was able to spend that much time outdoors without being overwhelmed by pain.
Did I find some new magic med? Did I manage to reduce my symptoms?
The Anxiety of Many Faces
I am terrified of appropriation.
I don’t mean that in the sense of say using AAVE, although there is an element of that. I don’t mean that I’m scared to be called a hipster or a fake whatever. I’m not even scared of claiming my own at times, when I need to.
I am scared that my identities, who I am, the ways I define myself, are costumes. Illusions so clever, so complete, that I managed to fool myself as well as others with them.
I’ve mentioned this before when discussing my own gender feels. Life hasn’t stood still long enough for me to really examine my feelings further regarding that aspect of things. I’m lucky enough to have surrounded myself with a community who will support me no matter what my ultimate gender identity ends up being and if feel the need to do a thorough examination sooner rather than later, so for now I can wait. Or is this just the excuse I tell myself as I avoid my fear of taking on a label, an identity, until I am completely sure that it belongs to me.
To my knowledge, I’ve never taken on an identity that didn’t belong to me.
I’ve been curious about my past heritage, but I don’t think it entitles me to claiming those cultural identities and is rather an interest in knowing my history. I discovered my ADHD before diagnosis, but even if I was able to fool the doctors and the tests, I can’t fake my reaction to the meds. There are enough people among my friend-list who would think nothing of tearing me to shreds, were I in the wrong, to act as a safeguard. I know all this.
Nobody wants a boyfriend who:
PSA: Don’t Touch Accessibility Devices
Accessibility Devices are, for all intents and purposes, a part of our bodies and should be treated as such.
DO NOT touch an accessibility device WITHOUT CONSENT. In case this is not clear, I mean the consent of the disabled person.
Do not touch a wheelchair without the consent of the person in it.
Do not touch a walker or a cane without the consent of the person using it.
Do not move a walker or cane out of the way, even if the person isn’t using it right now.
Do not push a wheelchair without consent, even if you are just trying to help. Even if you just want to make it easier for them to get up a hill.
Do not put a cane where the person who needs it can’t reach it. It is not funny.
Do not take a person’s prosthetic. It is not funny.
Do not push a person’s wheelchair out of your way, or to make them go faster. If you wouldn’t shove someone out of the way, then consider pushing someone in a chair as the equivalent.
Do not take a person’s hearing aid. It is not funny.
Do not try to make a person’s hearing aid produce feedback.
Do not push someone wearing a hearing aid into a pool, or spray them with water.
Do not touch a service dog. Doesn’t matter how cute it is. Doesn’t matter how small it is. If the dog is wearing his vest or currently working, DO NOT TOUCH THE DOG. (Or Any Other Service Animal)
Do not talk or stare at a service dog – dogs are social and if they are paying attention to you they are not paying attention to their job. They’re trained, but they’re still animals who CAN get distracted.
Do not put a walker or a cane somewhere else, even if it is not currently being used.
DO NOT try to help by lifting their walker or the person themselves unless asked. If you offer, respect their no.
All In for Immodesty
Ricky Martin, notorious shaker of bon bons, debuted his new show in Las Vegas this past Wednesday.
As a staunch defender of Mandesty I keep a close eye on his social media presence. This was posted a few days ago on his Facebook page.
I am glad he’s getting used to scorching heat. His residency titled All In will run from April until September.
This immodest behavior isn’t new though. He has been featured on this blog before and, well…just see for yourself.
Disability Misery
I’m multiply disabled, by whichever model you use. I am on disability assistance and I live in Canada where I even have access to healthcare. Given all this, you might think that the fact that I still have disability related depression, that I am proof that disability really is misery. That the medical model is right.
I want to make this really easy to understand.
I’m not miserable because I’m in pain.
They’re Red Hot and Immodest
Mandesty is a year old and we haven’t addressed one of the biggest threats to modesty in the last 30 years.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers, you know those those guys who are allergic to shirts and think the United States is only California.
I remember the first time I encountered the funky monks of immodesty. It was the early 90’s and MTV still played music.
RHCP have had a few line up changes over the years but one thing reminds a constant; immodesty.
These days Will Chad is keeping his shirt on. Josh is a sweet modest cinnamon roll and hopefully he’ll be a wholesome influence on Flea and Anthony.