Text 189, 85 rader
Skriven 2005-12-02 21:26:19 av Ardith Hinton (1:153/716.0)
     Kommentar till en text av James Bradley (1:134/77.0)
Ärende: Look Out...  1B.
========================
Hi again, James!  This is a continuation of my previous message to you:

JB>  Starting with my first ten day trip with the city
JB>  program, I was hooked.


         We have Vancouver Parks Board to thank for getting us acquainted with
kayaking.  While they don't offer structured classes or trips like what you've
described, they know who does... and there's an informal network of people who
often turn up at afternoon & weekend events.  A more regimented approach might
be advisable, however, on a ten-day trip with a group of teenage boys....  ;-)



JB>  Hiking, I knew I'd have to slump my own toothbrush
JB>  around, so I chose the aquatic trip, and the river
JB>  would have to slump my stuff around.

JB>  Lazy? ABSOLUTELY! <G>


         No, efficient.  Crazy like a fox... [chuckle].



JB>  there *is* no accounting for a persons preference,
JB>  but once to mix in the prejudices, and inflexibility,
JB>  you REALLY get me frustrated.


         Ditto.  We were talking about the woman who got all bent out of shape
because a kid in a stroller noticed that she was in a wheelchair.  The kid was
in a stroller for the same reason this woman was in a wheelchair... neither of
them could walk well, if at all, while others of the same age might reasonably
be expected to do so.  Without the orientation firmly stuck in the 1950's this
woman might have realized we could relate to her problems.  We have no need to
stare at a wheelchair as if we'd never seen such a thing before.  I often wish
other people would pay more attention, as a matter of fact!  We've had several
pedestrians collide with Nora's chair because they didn't notice it... (sigh).



JB>  I keep tellin' the sister, if the person's intent is
JB>  dark, how do you deal with that? If the person actually
JB>  wants to improve, adapt, or at least get along in peace,
JB>  that's where I prefer to be.


         Amen!  I guess it's the teacher in me... but if I see some indication
that a person is willing to learn, I'll be there.  I'd like to think we're all
struggling toward the light as best we can.  We can't be sure what is going on
inside another person's head, but one really has to wonder at times... do they
feel they get more mileage out of collecting sympathy and/or complaining about
how stupid, ignorant, thoughtless & selfish they believe everyone else is??  I
have seen others fall all over themselves to please someone like that....  :-/



JB>  If I step aside to let someone through, the abled walker
JB>  often takes a step in hesitation. (Maybe ingrained to not
JB>  put themselves ahead of the downtrodden???) I tell them,
JB>  "Slow moving traffic takes the right lane." and wave them
JB>  through. Hell, it can break up their day too, and their
JB>  work environment seems a little more tolerable for the
JB>  rest of their day. I still haven't heard a good comeback
JB>  to that one.


         That's a great line... I love it!  When one is in a wheelchair waiting
to cross a busy street & there are motor vehicles headed in all directions, the
best way to negotiate the crossing safely may be to wait for things to clear up
a bit.  We tend to wave people on ahead of us through doorways as well....  :-)



JB>  Lots of smiles though, and that's all that counts.


         Humour can be a wonderful teaching tool.  Hang in there....  :-)




--- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+
 * Origin: Wits' End, Vancouver BC, CANADA [604-266-5271] (1:153/716)