On New Year’s day, Randy didn’t have clinic. That makes for super long days of waiting, and wishing we were at home so we could at least be with the kids, go out in the yard, head down to the pond, or something.
Anticipating that feeling, I had asked for permission to take Randy on an outing. If we leave the facility, it’s got to be pre-approved by his attending doctor, and any medications planned for.
Randy’s activity of choice has always involved being outdoors. If it’s daylight, he’d be found in the yard or in the woods. If the weather had been nice I would’ve taken him to a park or botanical gardens, but with the cold temperatures and the wind, we had to opt for a movie…though I can’t actually recall any movie that Randy has watched to the end. Since I’ve known him, he’s one who promptly naps when the lights go out.
I asked Randy if he’d rather see Little Women (my top choice), Star Wars, or Jumanji…trying to make my voice sound less enthusiastic with each additional option. I knew his answer before I asked. He wouldn’t choose a classic American novel turned chick flick. He wouldn’t choose Sci-Fi, even if it IS the most successful movie franchise in history. He would choose the adventure movie with animals in it. I was right. He wanted to see Jumanji. (Can you hear the faint party horn?) That’s ok. I’m just excited to go on our long overdue date:)
I LOVE my mobility van! I can load, secure, and unload Randy all by myself! Buying it has given us freedom that we hadn’t experienced in a long time. The outings add variety and mental stimulus to his weekends that he wouldn’t otherwise be getting. I’m so grateful.
We headed to the theater, and attempted to find a handicapped spot. I’d never noticed, in my non-handicapped life, that some spaces have special lanes for ramps that load and unload wheelchair bound passengers. It had never occurred to me, that if those spots were filled with handicapped (or *gasp* non-handicapped) vehicles that don’t necessarily need a ramp, then there’s not a single safe place anywhere in any parking lot, to lower the ramp. Someone can whip in (not seeing you…being in a wheelchair is akin to wearing Bilbo’s Ring), and run you over. Or worse, destroy the ramp.
Here’s another epiphany I had. Fully functional, weight bearing, 2-leg-walking landscape crews filled the nearby flowerbeds with oak trees and moderately sized pebbles. Again, nothing I would have blinked at 4 months ago. If you want to neutralize an army of hand-powered wheeled vehicles, toss a handful of acorns and pebbles in their path.
Oh, and I’ve likely been guilty of this a dozen times in my care-free past, but if you block the ramp to the sidewalk with your car while you meet someone, or run a quick errand…anyone in a wheelchair will be stranded, until Your Majesty returns. Hypothetically.
We completed the obstacle course just in time to catch the movie! I saw right away that the regular wheelchair accessible seating we chose tickets for, was too low for Randy to see the screen. He can’t lean his head back very far, and he won’t look up with his eyes (only down, side to side and straight ahead… we don’t know why, yet).
I admit, I started to cry. Seems silly, I’m sure. The thought crossed my mind, “Why does every single step of this have to be so difficult?” And then I remembered Randy. Maybe every single step of his day is difficult, too? Maybe more difficult than mine? He’s not complaining, or crying. Maybe I can suck it up, decide to smile, and find a solution.
Turns out, this theater in Grapevine has an elevator, and wheelchair accessible seats on the top row! That’s where we went, and we saw an action packed movie…till the climax, when Randy was visibly agitated, and communicated to me that needed to leave. 🙄 So…true to classic Randy form, we did NOT watch another movie to the end!
I wasn’t too disappointed. It was oddly comforting that some things haven’t changed.
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