Handicapped Parking Dilemma
It is hurricane season. Outside my kitchen window, it looked like the heavens are going to open up at any second. Kelly wanted steak today. We don’t usually eat red meat, but he works very hard. He deserves a nice T-bone steak once in a while. We shall have that with green beans and mashed potatoes.
“If I hurry, I will be back before it rains,” I thought. It was eight in the morning. I quickly dressed and left for the supermarket. Did I mention that it is the last day of a three-day weekend, Labour Day Weekend? I did not expect the handicapped parking spots to be filled. But they were, each and every one of them, and not by handicapped parkers. I got upset. If I did not need potatoes and onions, I would have been curled up on the love seat in the living room reading a book. I guess everyone had the same idea. They also needed to do their grocery shopping before the rain came.
I found a spot not too far away from the entrance. I quickly bought what I needed and came home. All the while, I pondered the selfishness and thoughtlessness of people who parked in spots like these when they were indeed quite healthy and did not struggle with physical problems.
I remembered when my mother became incapacitated. She could not move, nor speak, nor do any of the things she used to do. We had to literally lift her up and put her in bed, chair, car, or wheelchair. We needed the extra handicapped space to put her in or take her out of the wheelchair. So many times I had to go round before I found a spot for that.
I remember one time three girls were parked in a handicapped spot. They sat on top of the hood of their car, each enjoying an ice cream cone.
“Excuse me,” I said. “These spots are for handicapped people. Would you mind moving,” I politely asked.
“Too bad! We got here first! We’re not moving,” they replied as they continued licking their ice cream cones.
“Well, my dears, I hope the day will come when you will be in such a predicament and you will receive a similar reply. Then, you will remember your attitude. It took me a long while to find a spot. Then
We had to walk quite a while to reach the doctor’s office. It was upsetting and it was unfair.
Today, after I parked, I slowly walked into the supermarket with my cane. I held onto a shopping cart and proceeded to get what I needed. I got back home just as the heavens opened up.