Temporary eyes...

So, since my accident I have realized a few things through my new found eyes. In other words a view from a wheel chair. Believe me I do not wish a wheel chair experience on anyone but if you would like to see what it is like I challenge you to try it out for a week. I tell you it is a very interesting experience. I know I will have a newfound empathy for people who are in wheel chairs or even just hopping along with crutches/ walkers. I have had some pretty interesting experiences.... To list a few:

• Some people are in their own little world on the UI campus that they shut doors in my face, or even better watch me struggle to get through doors.
  
• People have stepped on or kicked my foot. I mean is a big boot raised into the air invisible or something?
• Just this past week a couple people cut in front of me while I was in line for food.
• Today I went to a memorial service and the funeral home room was packed. My wheel chair and I were going to be in the way so I had to lift myself into an empty pew that had one lady sitting in it. Well, my friend Megan and my mom sat down and this lady said," I have a few more people coming," in a very snooty tone. We did not really respond because the funeral home room was filling up quick. Eventually our pew was beginning to fill up and rude lady was like can we get some more room? So, my mom was pretty fed up at this point so we moved to the pew that was in front of us (that was completely empty). My wheel chair had been already taken away..So, I the handicapped one precariously moved myself up one row because a snooty lady and her posse were too lazy. Go figure huh? Some people's children.
  

While sometimes being in a wheel chair can be frustrating and I feel like I am invisible. I feel like it has been an learning experience I would not take away. I have decided it has been a great learning experience that will make me a better teacher and ultimately a better person. The stories of people being completely oblivious are getting better and better. Being in a wheel chair has introduced me into a whole new world. I have come to notice how much and how easy it is to take simple things like walking for granted. I am thankful I am on the fast track to healing and in a way thankful I am going through this experience. Yes, sometimes it is a pain in the butt to have to haul my wheel chair everywhere I go and it makes me sad to have to rely on so many people but overall I am learning a lot! I could not even begin to cover how thankful I am for people who have been helping me. Saying thank you a million times over would not even begin to cover the gratitude I feel for those people.